title: Hypofractionation radiotherapy for a locally recurrent rectal carcinoma as a treatment for an elderly patient.
abstract: A very old patient, who had been suffering from rectal carcinoma for many years without achieving a complete response to electrocoagulations, was given palliative radiotherapy by hypofractionation with a total dose of 30 Gy in 3 weeks, 1 fraction a week. A complete response was achieved. No special therapy-related morbidity was noted. After the radiotherapy, an acceptable quality of life was maintained for 12 months without a local recurrence. It is concluded that radiotherapy may be a simple and efficient method of palliation without distressing morbidity compared with electrocoagulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Free University Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Njo
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Karim
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010166:Palliative Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000532:radiotherapy*