Result of Post Operative Radiotherapy of Carcinoma of the Rectum

Huh,  S J; Ha,  S W; Park,  C I; Choi,  K J; Kim,  J P

J Korean Soc Ther Radiol > Volume 2(2); 1984 > Article

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Society for Therapeutic Radiology 1984;2(2): 229-236.

Result of Post Operative Radiotherapy of Carcinoma of the Rectum

S J Huh, S W Ha, C I Park, K J Choi, J P Kim

Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Korea.

ABSTRACT

Surgery remains the mainstay in the management of carcinoma of the rectum. However, Local recurrence and systemic metastasis remain the challenge. It appears that post operative radiotherapy has a very definite role in the reduction of local recurrence. Ninety two patients of carcinoma of the rectum after curative surgery received post operative radiotherapy 5,000 rad/5~6 weeks to whole pelvis at the Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital between March 1979 and December 1982. Fifty three percent of patients pf patients show modified Astler-oller stage C2. Actuarial disease free survival rate of rectal cancer was: stage B1,2 75%, stage C1 81% stage C2 39%, and stage C3 20%. Twelve percent shows local recurrence and distant metastasis occurred in 28%. Prognostic significance of nodal metastasis is also analyzed. Incidence of small bowel obstruction, requiring surgery, is 8%, occurring between 5th month to 12th month after operation. It is suggested that post operative radiotherapy of the rectal cancer following curative surgery has a significant role in the reduction of local recurrence.