[Radiotherapy for early anal cancer: a report of 27 cases].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the results of radiotherapy for early stage anal cancer.


METHODS
During 1960 through 1993, 27 patients with stage T1-2N0 anal cancer were treated by radiotherapy alone. Seven cases received pelvic irradiation plus local field boost, 20 cases received local field irradiation alone. Kaplan-Meier method was used in survival analysis.


RESULTS
The overall 5-year survival rate in this series of patients was 79.1%. Eighteen of the 27 cases had their anal functions preserved. Local recurrence occurred in 7 cases and regional lymph node metastasis in one case. Five of them were salvaged, two by surgery and three by irradiation.


CONCLUSIONS
Radiotherapy alone for early anal cancer is effective. Anal function is preserved in about two-thirds of the patients so treated. Local treatment failure can be salvaged by surgery or radiotherapy.
Wang
L
L
Cancer Istitute (Hospital), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021.
Yu
Z
Z
Qian
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001005:Anus Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D015996:Survival Rate