[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 +/- 0.9%, 3.8 +/- 2.6% and 2.7 +/- 1.3%. Pyoinflammatory complications developed in 40.7 +/- 3.3% and 45.6 +/- 6.8% of cases in the two combined treatment groups, respectively, and in 33.2 +/- 3.8% in the control group. In patients subjected to preoperative irradiation in combination with microwave hyperthermia, no increase in the occurrence of pyoinflammatory complications was observed, but surgical wounds took longer to heal. The rate of complications following sphincter-sparing procedures, whether used alone or in combination treatment, was similar. It is concluded that the use of combined modality treatment should not bar sphincter-sparing surgery.