[Results of intensive combination treatment of patients with cancer of the rectum].

A comparative analysis of the results of treatment of two groups of patients with carcinoma of the rectum was made for a 6-year period of observation. One group (91 patients) was subjected to the intensive combined radiotherapy. In the preoperative period they received 3000 rad with supervoltage source, 600 rad daily during 9 days. Operations were performed 5-10 days following the irradiation. Surgery alone was performed in the second control group (132 patients). The intensive combined therapy allows a survival to be improved by 15.4% during six years of observation (indices were standardized by sex, age and prognosis). In a group of patients with poor prognosis the combined treatment ameliorated the results by 29% (indices are standardized by sex and age). It is believed that the intensive combined treatment for rectal cancer should be recommended for the health protection practice.