[Combined treatment of rectal cancer]

The comparative analysis of two methods of treatment (a combined method with the preoperative radiotherapy and a purely surgical one) of 363 patients with carcinoma of the rectum has shown that an intensive concentrated course of radiotherapy with irradiation of extended fields (the irradiation zone includes the small pelvis cavity and paraaortal lymph nodes up to the level of the second lumbar vertebra) is satisfactorily endured by the patients and does not complicate the operation. In the postoperative period the patients subjected to preoperative radiotherapy showed a longer healing of the perineal wound. The authors failed to reveal any difference in the results of a 3-year survival of the patients after the combined and purely surgical methods of treatment. Local recurrencies were found to be less frequent following the combined method.