[An assessment of the efficacy of preoperative radio- and thermoradiotherapy in treating rectal cancer].

Immediate results of combined and surgical treatment of 415 patients with stage III rectal cancer were analysed. Combined treatment including intensive preoperative irradiation and preoperative thermoradiotherapy was not associated with higher postoperative lethality as compared to surgery alone, the indexes being 1.9 +/- 0.