EFFECT OF COMBINED-MODALITY THERAPY ON THE SURGICAL-MANAGEMENT OF LOCALLY ADVANCED RECTAL-CARCINOMA

The treatment of locally advanced rectal carcinoma is one of the more complicated problems in the management of colorectal carcinoma. More t han any other site successful treatment requires a multimodality appro ach as surgery alone is frequently insufficient to completely eradicat e all disease. This review focuses primarily on the management of pati ents who present without prior treatment and discusses the role of pre operative radiation therapy as well as intraoperative radiation therap y. Although much less gratifying, patients who present after failing p revious therapy may also benefit from an aggressive multimodality appr oach. (C) 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.