Cummings B J
Department of Radiation Oncology, Princess Margaret Hospital, University of Toronto, Ont.
Can J Surg. 1997 Oct;40(5):358-62.
Adjuvant radiotherapy for rectal cancer is intended to eradicate subclinical deposits of cancer cells not removed at surgery. These residual cells are found most commonly at the resection margin of the primary tumour and in transected cancer-bearing lymphatics or vessels. Refinements in surgical technique have been associated with a reduction in the risk of pelvic recurrence in some nonrandomized series. However, clinical trials have shown that the combinations of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and in some instances radiotherapy alone, reduce the risk of recurrence and may improve survival rates compared with those of surgery alone. It is premature to consider that adjuvant pelvic radiotherapy is unnecessary.
直肠癌辅助放疗旨在根除手术中未切除的亚临床癌细胞沉积物。这些残留细胞最常见于原发肿瘤的切除边缘以及被切断的含有癌细胞的淋巴管或血管中。在一些非随机系列研究中，手术技术的改进与盆腔复发风险的降低有关。然而，临床试验表明，放疗与化疗联合应用，在某些情况下单独放疗，与单纯手术相比，可降低复发风险并可能提高生存率。认为辅助盆腔放疗不必要还为时过早。
