Preoperative radiation therapy for carcinoma of the rectum and rectosigmoid

✍ Scribed by Justin J. Stein

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1971
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 510 KB
• Volume: 28
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0008-543X
• DOI: 10.1002/1097-0142(197107)28:1<190::aid-cncr2820280138>3.0.co;2-5

✦ Synopsis

There is a sound radiobiologic basis for the combined use of preoperative radiation therapy and surgery in the treatment of operable carcinoma of the rectum and rectosigmoid. It is recommended that a planned joint effort be made by surgeons and radiation therapists to evaluate the place of radiation therapy for carcinoma of the rectum and rectosigmoid. There is evidence that preoperative radiation therapy will improve the survival of patients who have metastases to the regional lymphatics and that pelvic recurrence can be eliminated or reduced.

ITH THE EXCEPTION OF CANCER OF THE skin, there are more cases of cancer of the colon and rectum diagnosed each year in the United States than of any other type. It is estimated that 75,000 new cases will be diagnosed during 1971, with approximately 46,000 deaths. T h e disease is relatively rare below the age of 25; it affects both males and females, and is the second most common cause of death from cancer in both sexes between the ages of 55 and 74.2

Moss and Axtell13 analyzed data collected from the End Results Group sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and noted that since the early 1950's there has been practically no improvement in prognosis for cancer of the stomach, colon, and rectum even among the patients with localized lesions who are treated by surgery.

It is unfortunate that more progress has not been made in the detection of a greater percentage of colorectal cancers while in a localized stage, that better methods of therapy are not available, and that there is not more irnmunologic knowledge regarding this disease. This is particularly so since the majority of the lesions are within reach of the examining finger or within sight through a 10-inch sigmoidoscope. It is doubtful whether there will be significant further improvement in surgical