[Brachytherapy of anorectal cancer]

Our own manual method of interstitial brachytherapy is described. It is suitable for T 1-2NOMO rectal cancer with up to 3 cm in the largest diameter, situated up to 5-6 cm orally from the anus. The parallel course and the equidistance of the radioactive lines are attained using hollow steel guides-needles through individually-made perforated plates (template technique). A minimal tumor dose of 65-70 Gy is achieved by the brachytherapy alone, or as an extra-dose after 30-40 Gy external irradiation. All of the twelve patients treated so are alive (9 of them more than 5 years), without recurrence or serious late complications.