De resultaten van preoperatieve radiotherapie bij patiënten met een plaatselijk gefixeerd rectumcarcinoom

- Between 1970 and 1982, 88 patients with a fixed, marginally operable rectal carcinoma were subjected to preoperative irradiation. Forty-four patients were subsequently operated. Postoperative morbidity was considerable and 10 patients died of complications. Local regional recurrence was seen in 8 patients. After 5 years, 40 of the patients were free of tumour recurrence, after 10 years, 32.

Preoperative irradiation proved useful in part of the patients with a marginally operable rectal carcinoma, but the conventional method of irradiation applied is inadequate. New methods of treatment are urgently required.