The treatment of locally advanced carcinoma of the colon and rectum by a surgical procedure and radiotherapy postoperatively.

Following resection of locally advanced carcinomas of the rectum and colon, 95 patients received moderate dose elective radiotherapy either to an inverted T field or the entire abdomen. In 27 instances, carcinomas invaded adjacent structures and were incompletely resected. Fifty-seven patients had tumors of the rectosigmoid and had either an abdominoperineal or an anterior resection. Thirty-five patients had a mean follow-up period of 26 months. Three of 35 carcinomas recurred locally, 26 of 35 patients are alive without disease. Thirty-eight patients had carcinomas of the colon and had either a partial or hemicolectomy. Thirty-one had a mean follow-up period of 24 months. Five of 31 carcinomas recurred locally. Seventeen of 31 patients are alive, without disease. Sixty-six of 95 patients have survived two years free of disease. One death occurred from radiation enteritis. Radiotherapy postoperatively for patients at a high risk of failure resulted in a low incidence of local recurrence.