COLORECTAL-CANCER AFTER PELVIC IRRADIATION - CASE-REPORTS

Four patients with color-ectal cancer after pelvic irradiation for gyn aecological malignancies are reported. The interval between irradiatio n and the diagnosis of colorectal cancer was 15-28 years. Histological findings of radiation proctocolitis adjacent to the cancer were obser ved in all specimens. Ki-67 immunohistologic staining showed high cell proliferation activity in the in irradiated mucosa of a recently remo ved specimen. Although irradiation has not been proved to induce color ectal cancer, considerable circumstantial evidence supports this belie f. Awareness of this potential long-ter-m complication is important wh en planing the follow-up of patients subjected to pelvic radiotherapy.