Radiation-Associated Rectal Cancer: Report of Four Cases

Abstract

Radiation-associated rectal cancer has a tendency to be diagnosed in the advanced stage and to have a poor prognosis. A literature review and our case report suggest that since there are no reliable clinical or laboratory indicators of the presence of a curable colorectal cancer in the setting of chronic radiation proctocolitis, surveillance with a colonoscope should be done 10 years after irradiation in patients with previous pelvic radiotherapy.