[Treatment of anal cancer in Trøndelag]

We have retrospectively examined the medical records and prospectively studied the survival of 43 patients (37 women and six men) treated for anal cancer in the Trøndelag region of Norway during the period 1970-89. During this period, different strategies were used, ranging from primary surgery to combined chemo-radiotherapy and sphincter saving therapy. 20 patients were treated with surgery alone, nine patients first with surgery and postoperatively with irradiation because the surgery was non-radical (histologic), and 14 patients with combined chemo- and radiotherapy. The five year cancer ani-specific survival in the whole group is 69%. The predicted five year survival in the chemo-radiotherapy group is 90% versus 61% in the group treated with surgery. Primary chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy should be the preferred treatment for carcinoma of the anal canal.