Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
8
pubmed:dateCreated
1989-12-20
pubmed:abstractText
Preservation of anorectal function makes chemoradiotherapy attractive as the primary treatment in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the anal region. Despite variations in techniques of chemoradiotherapy administration, the accumulated experience of a number of institutions indicates substantial improvement over previous approaches, which included surgery or radiation therapy individually. Although no longer providing the definitive therapeutic role in this disease, the surgeon is frequently asked to evaluate lesions suspected of being anal malignancies. In addition, it is the surgeon who most often performs the diagnostic biopsy, consults on local complications of chemoradiotherapy, and manages complications of local recurrence. In this context, optimal care includes early organization of the medical oncologist, radiation therapist, and surgeon to participate in the initial diagnostic evaluations, examinations with the patient under anesthesia, and follow-up during therapy. A complete response is often not evident until 2 to 3 months after treatment. We recommend a follow-up schedule of monthly visits for the first 6 months, examinations every 3 months for the next 2 years, and assessment every 6 months thereafter. Evaluation during early routine visits includes manual and proctoscopic examination of the perineum and rectum and review of the hemogram and liver enzyme levels in the serum. CT, MRI, or lower endoscopy procedures are performed only if clinical examination or studies suggest the possibility of recurrence or a second primary tumor. Patients with an incomplete response to therapy after 3 months often undergo examination under anesthesia with biopsy of suspect areas. Chronic inflammatory changes in the area of previous carcinoma may be interpreted as persistent disease. Thus histologic proof of recurrent malignancy must be obtained before considering surgical or chemoradiotherapy salvage treatment.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
AIM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Aug
pubmed:issn
0011-3840
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
26
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
525-600
pubmed:dateRevised
2005-11-16
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1989
pubmed:articleTitle
Carcinoma of the anal region.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Review