title: Efficacy of radiation therapy alone for limited squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal.
abstract: From 1973-1986, thirty-five patients with limited squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal underwent definitive radiation therapy only. There were twenty females and fifteen males with average ages of 65 and 53 years, respectively. Twelve of the fifteen males were admittedly homosexual. The primary lesions were less than 5 cm in maximum dimension and were confined to the anal canal. Two patients presented with regional adenopathy. Chemotherapy was not used in any case. Treatment plans were individualized but usually included whole pelvis and boost external beam irradiation. The average tumor dose was 6395 cGy (range 4525-7550 cGy). One interstitial Ir-192 implant was performed. Local control was 77% (27/35) following radiation therapy alone. Seven of the eight failures were salvaged surgically, five by abdominoperineal resection and two by local excision, for an overall rate of 97% (34/35). The 5-year actuarial disease-free survival is 92%. Only two patients have disseminated and/or died of neoplasm. Anal continence was retained in 80% (28/35). Early and late complication rates were acceptable.
authors.affiliation: St. Mary's Hospital, San Francisco, CA.
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Doggett
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Cantril
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001005:Anus Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis