Anal cancer: current concepts and treatment results

37 patients were treated upon carcinoma of the anal canal or anal margin between 1977 and 1989. Although combined radiochemotherapy is of increasing interest as the treatment of choice our patients who underwent radical surgery in form of abdominoperineal rectum resection only had a very good outcome. Combined multimodal therapy by radiation and chemotherapy may possibly be able to reduce the rate of necessary resections. Difficulties in finding out a relapse of disease after such treatments are discussed. The own experience with combined radio-chemotherapy is not large enough at the present time to make significant statements. Long term results have to be expected yet. Abdominoperineal rectum resection as a means of radical surgery still has its place in the spectrum therapeutic modalities of treating anal carcinoma.