title: Preoperative irradiation of primarily unresectable colorectal carcinoma.
abstract: A series of 44 patients with colorectal carcinomas considered unresectable on presentation received preoperative irradiation to a dose of 4500--5000 rad (175--200 rad/day). After a waiting period averaging 6.5 weeks, 38 patients underwent exploration. Complete resection was possible in 27 patients. Of these, 22 patients remained disease-free with a median follow-up of 27 months. While longer follow-up periods are needed, the results indicate that the large percentage of unresectable and therefore surgically incurable colorectal carcinomas can be made resectable by preoperative irradiation, and a significant number of these may have been cured.
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D012008:Recurrence; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000528:radiation effects