Objective: To evaluate the results of radiotherapy for early stage anal cancer.
Methods: During 1960 through 1993, 27 patients with stage T1-2N0 anal cancer were treated by radiotherapy alone. Seven cases received pelvic irradiation plus local field boost, 20 cases received local field irradiation alone. Kaplan-Meier method was used in survival analysis.
Results: The overall 5-year survival rate in this series of patients was 79.1%. Eighteen of the 27 cases had their anal functions preserved. Local recurrence occurred in 7 cases and regional lymph node metastasis in one case. Five of them were salvaged, two by surgery and three by irradiation.
Conclusion: Radiotherapy alone for early anal cancer is effective. Anal function is preserved in about two-thirds of the patients so treated. Local treatment failure can be salvaged by surgery or radiotherapy.