BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Since introduction of total mesorectal excision (TME) the prognosis of rectal cancer patients has improved significantly. Debate exists regarding the optimal mode of multimodal treatment. The aim of this survey was to determine the preferred multimodal treatment and the significance and acceptance of short-term radiotherapy (5 x 5 Gy) in Germany. METHODS: In August 2003, a questionnaire was sent to the heads of all 1,275 surgical and 157 radiotherapy departments in Germany. RESULTS: Four hundred ninety-three of 1,275 surgical (39%) and 89 of 157 radiotherapeutic questionnaires (56%) were returned. The majority of the answering surgeons and radiotherapists performed adjuvant (89 and 100%), followed by neoadjuvant (61 and 94%) and short-term radiotherapy (5 x 5 Gy) (16 and 17%). Other questions of the survey dealt with indications for each treatment modality, the initiation of treatment, and reasons for objection to short term radiotherapy. CONCLUSION: Short-tem radiotherapy played a minor role in the treatment of rectal cancer patients in 2003 and was mainly initiated by surgeons (approximately 70%). However, 74% of the answering surgeons and 42% of the answering radiotherapists not performing short-term radiotherapy in 2003 were open minded towards the introduction of this treatment modality.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Since introduction of total mesorectal excision (TME) the prognosis of rectal cancerpatients has improved significantly. Debate exists regarding the optimal mode of multimodal treatment. The aim of this survey was to determine the preferred multimodal treatment and the significance and acceptance of short-term radiotherapy (5 x 5 Gy) in Germany. METHODS: In August 2003, a questionnaire was sent to the heads of all 1,275 surgical and 157 radiotherapy departments in Germany. RESULTS: Four hundred ninety-three of 1,275 surgical (39%) and 89 of 157 radiotherapeutic questionnaires (56%) were returned. The majority of the answering surgeons and radiotherapists performed adjuvant (89 and 100%), followed by neoadjuvant (61 and 94%) and short-term radiotherapy (5 x 5 Gy) (16 and 17%). Other questions of the survey dealt with indications for each treatment modality, the initiation of treatment, and reasons for objection to short term radiotherapy. CONCLUSION: Short-tem radiotherapy played a minor role in the treatment of rectal cancerpatients in 2003 and was mainly initiated by surgeons (approximately 70%). However, 74% of the answering surgeons and 42% of the answering radiotherapists not performing short-term radiotherapy in 2003 were open minded towards the introduction of this treatment modality.
Authors: E Kapiteijn; C A Marijnen; I D Nagtegaal; H Putter; W H Steup; T Wiggers; H J Rutten; L Pahlman; B Glimelius; J H van Krieken; J W Leer; C J van de Velde Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2001-08-30 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Rolf Sauer; Heinz Becker; Werner Hohenberger; Claus Rödel; Christian Wittekind; Rainer Fietkau; Peter Martus; Jörg Tschmelitsch; Eva Hager; Clemens F Hess; Johann-H Karstens; Torsten Liersch; Heinz Schmidberger; Rudolf Raab Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2004-10-21 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: C A M Marijnen; E Kapiteijn; C J H van de Velde; H Martijn; W H Steup; T Wiggers; E Klein Kranenbarg; J W H Leer Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 2002-02-01 Impact factor: 44.544