[Combined treatment of rectal cancer]

In 15 males and 25 females at the age of 24--70 the authors have studied radiation pathomorphosis, the early and late results in anal and low ampullar cancer following preoperative large fractionation irradiation on a gamma-therapeutic machine "Rokus" with the rotation regime of 400--600 rad daily, a total dosage--2000--3000 rad. The operation was performed 2--3 days following the irradiation. Eighteen patients were followed up over 3 years. Recurrences and metastases were noted in 5 cases (glandular-solid and mucosa forms of cancer). A 3-year survival was 72.2% versus 40.7% (P less than 0.001) while using surgical therapy solely.