Respective roles of radiotherapy and surgery in the management of epidermoid carcinoma of the anal margin

Abstract

The study of 54 patients treated curatively by irradiation with or without surgery is reported. The crude and cancer-specific five-year survival rates are 59.2 percent and 79.7 percent. Three patients were treated palliatively. The great variation in histologic type, clinical appearance, disease stage, and patient status justifies the definition of a treatment strategy using radiotherapy, surgery, or a combination of the two methods. T1 and T2 squamous- or basal-cell carcinomas are suitable for local excision followed by irradiation or for irradiation alone. T3 tumors and Bowen's disease should be treated by irradiation first. Verrucous carcinoma is suitable for local surgery followed by irradiation. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma and T4 tumors are suitable for preoperative irradiation and delayed surgery. The optimal radiation technique consists of delivering a dose of 40 Gy in 17 days by cobalt-60 with bolus and in combination with concomitant chemotherapy (5-fluorouracil and mitomycin C). Prophylactic irradiation of the inguinal area is recommended in all NO tumors except for T1 lesions and basal-cell carcinomas.