[The results of the endocavitary irradiation of early-stage rectal tumors].

Intracavitary contact radiotherapy was used according to the guidelines of J. Papillon in 91 patients with early rectal tumors (72 adenocarcinomas and 19 villous adenomas) at the Dijon Cancer Institute. Most of the patients were referred because of poor surgical risk. Ten patients had interstitial implants in addition, 96% of the patients had a complete response. The local control rate after five years was 74% (67/91). Including salvage the ultimate control rate was 91% (83/91). 85% (77/91) had preservation of the sphincter function. The size of the rectal cancer and the degree of rectal wall invasion were of prognostic impact as proposed by the clinical staging system of Dijon.