title: Retrospective study of acute toxicity following short-course preoperative radiotherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of short-course preoperative radiotherapy (25 Gy in five fractions over 1 week) in resectable rectal cancer reduces local recurrence but is associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications and late toxicity. This study aimed to identify those patients who are unlikely to benefit from short-course preoperative radiotherapy and the factors associated with acute toxicity.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients who received short-course preoperative radiotherapy at a university hospital in 1998 and 1999 were included in this retrospective study. The association between complications occurring within 3 months and patient demographics, radiotherapy technique, surgical details and overall treatment time (OTT) was assessed by univariate and multivariate analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mortality rate at 30 days was 6 per cent in the 177 patients identified. Thirty-seven per cent of patients had either Dukes' A tumours, surgically incurable disease or positive circumferential margins. One or more complications occurred in 38 per cent of patients. On multivariate analysis an OTT of more than 13 days (P = 0.03), age (P = 0.02) and length of the radiotherapy field (P = 0.05) were associated with an increased risk of complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgery within 1 week of completing short-course preoperative radiotherapy improved preoperative staging and use of an optimal radiotherapy technique will result in fewer patients at risk of acute toxicity.
authors.affiliation: The Cancer Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK. andrew@agjhartley.fsnet.co.uk
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hartley
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giridharan
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Billingham
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ismail
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Geh
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000009:adverse effects; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors