THE USE OF RADIOTHERAPY FOR PELVIC RECURRENCE FOLLOWING ABDOMINOPERINEAL RESECTION FOR CARCINOMA OF THE RECTUM: A 10‐YEAR EXPERIENCE

Abstract

Eighty-five patients who developed pelvic recurrence after abdominoperineal resection for carcinoma of the rectum have been reviewed. The average period of latency was 16 months, with increasing incidence of recurrence in the more advanced stages of the disease. Eighty per cent of recurrences occurred within two years of surgical treatment and a further 20% between two and five years after operation. The prominent manifestations were pelvic pain (100%) and mass (54%), which responded to palliative radiotherapy in 92% and 80% of the cases respectively. The mean duration of palliation was 6.5 months. Patients with pelvic recurrence secondary to rectal carcinoma benefit from palliative radiation therapy, and this should be given whenever possible.