Conservative management of tumors of the rectum by radiotherapy and local excision.

Twenty-five patients with invasive adenocarcinoma of the rectum were treated by preoperative external irradiation (35 Gy), local excision, and peroperative placement of a plastic tube loop in the tumor bed for perioperative brachytherapy (20 or 25 Gy). Patients treated were too frail for radical resection (14 patients) or had refused a permanent colostomy (11 patients). With a mean follow-up of 40.

[A new conservative approach in the treatment of cancer of the rectum].

Between 1980 and 1987, 25 patients with cancer of the middle or lower rectum were treated with preoperative radiotherapy (35 Gy over 3 weeks) followed, a few weeks later, by "tumorectomy". During surgery, a guiding tube was positioned on the tumoral bed for a localized overdose of curietherapy. The superimpression was 20 Gy for submucosal lesions (7 patients) and 25 Gy for lesions that had invaded the muscle coat (8 cases) or reached the serous coat (10 cases).

A new combined approach in the conservative management of rectal cancer.

Between 1980 and 1987, 25 patients with rectal cancer were treated with a combination of preoperative external irradiation of 35 Gy in 15 fractions over 3 weeks which was followed, 6 to 8 weeks later, by a tumorectomy and peroperative placement of a plastic tube loop for post-operative interstitial therapy by iridium-192. This boost dose was 20 Gy (Paris System) for submucosal lesions (seven patients) and 25 Gy for intramural (eight patients) and extramural (ten patients) lesions. With a mean follow-up of 40.