Hypofractionation radiotherapy for a locally recurrent rectal carcinoma as a treatment for an elderly patient

A very old patient, who had been suffering from rectal carcinoma for many years without achieving a complete response to electrocoagulations, was given palliative radiotherapy by hypofractionation with a total dose of 30 Gy in 3 weeks, 1 fraction a week. A complete response was achieved. No special therapy-related morbidity was noted. After the radiotherapy, an acceptable quality of life was maintained for 12 months without a local recurrence. It is concluded that radiotherapy may be a simple and efficient method of palliation without distressing morbidity compared with electrocoagulation.