title: Early experience with postoperative adjuvant chemoradiation for rectal carcinoma: focus on morbidity.
abstract: The morbidity of postoperative adjuvant chemoradiation for primary extraperitoneal rectal carcinoma is documented in this ongoing study. Patients who presented electively for resection with ACPS Dukes' B and C extraperitoneal rectal carcinoma during the period January 1990 to June 1993 were studied. Twenty patients received postoperative adjuvant chemoradiation. At a mean follow up of 32.6 months (s.d. 7.1), three of the 20 patients who received combined adjuvant chemoradiation reported no side effects. In 10 patients (50%) complications were classified as minor. In the remaining seven patients (35%) major complications of therapy occurred. There were no deaths. These early results highlight the morbidity of postoperative adjuvant chemoradiation that has been presumed but not documented.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*