Radiotherapy treatment for isolated loco-regional recurrence of rectosigmoid cancer following definitive surgery: Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute experience, 1981-1990.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the success of external beam radiation treatment in the management of loco-regional recurrence of rectosigmoid cancer.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis of 135 patients with locally recurrent rectosigmoid cancer presenting to Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute between January 1981 and December 1990 was undertaken. Patients were treated with three different dose ranges of radiotherapy: 50-60 Gy ("Radical" group), 45 Gy ("High-dose palliative" group), and <45 Gy ("Low-dose palliative" group). Symptomatic response rates and overall survival for each group were determined.


RESULTS
Symptomatic response rates of 85, 81, and 56% were achieved in the radical, high-dose palliative, and low-dose palliative groups, respectively. Estimated median survival times were 17.9, 14.8, and 9.1 months for the radical, high-dose palliative, and low-dose palliative groups, respectively.
Guiney
M J
MJ
Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Smith
J G
JG
Worotniuk
V
V
Ngan
S
S
Blakey
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012811:Sigmoid Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery