The value of total mesorectal excision with 125I seed implantation in middle-lower portion of rectal cancer

Objective: To study the effect of total mesorectal excision (TME) with 125I seed implantation in progressive middle-lower portion rectal cancer. Methods: Sixty-seven middle-lower portion rectal cancer cases (all were Ducks B, C stage) were treated with three different methods. 1) TME with chemotherapy in 24 cases (group 1). 2) TME with radiotherapy in 18 cases (group 2). 3) TME followed by 125I seed implantation in 19 cases (group 3). All cases had been followed up for two years. Recurrence rate in three groups and complications in groups 2 and group 3 were observed. Results: The recurrence rates in three groups in 1.5 years were 46%, 11%, 5% respectively. The recurrence rates in group 2 and group 3 were lower than that in group 1 (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between group 2 and group 3. The incidence of complications in group 3 was lower than that in group 2 (P=0.029). Conclusion: TME with 125I seed implication can reduce the recurrence rate of progressive rectal cancer and also lower its incidence of complications. (authors)