Preoperative Irradiation of Operable Adenocarinoma of the Rectum and Rectosigmoid Colon

Abstract

Preoperative irradiation in a moderate dose schedule (2,000–3,000 rads∕two weeks) followed promptly by surgery has had a favorable effect, when matched with controls, on the survival of male patients with operable and resectable adenocarcinoma of the rectum, particularly when the lesion is low-lying and requires an abdominoperineal resection. There is a significant reduction in the finding of positive lymph nodes in the treated group (27%) compared with the controls (40%). With 700 men already in the study, life table survivals at five years are documented at 40.4% for irradiated patients who undergo abdominoperineal resection vs. 27.5% for the control group. This favorable effect appears dose-related.