[Pelvic hyperthermochemotherapy combined with surgery for rectal cancer]

In an attempt to prevent local recurrence, intraoperative pelvic hyperthermochemotherapy (IOPHC) was performed in combination with curative surgery for rectal cancer. One hundred twenty-three patients were divided into four groups: A, 8 patients without nodal involvement (n0) and given IOPHC; B, 22 with nodal involvement (n+) and given IOPHC; C, 47 n0 and no IOPHC; D, 46 n (+) and no IOPHC. Local recurrence developed in one patient in group A (12.5%), 3 in group B (13.6%), 5 in Group C (10.6%), and 16 in Group D (34.8%), respectively. Thus, the rate of local recurrence in group B was low compared to that of Group D, even through there was no statistical difference (p = 0.11). IOPHC may be one option for limiting local recurrence after surgical resection of rectal cancer.