A Comparison of Early Side-Effects of Short-Course and Long-Course Radiotherapy in Rectal Cancer

Background: The variety of neoadjuvant treatments concerning rectal cancer has led to acute complications. The present study aimed to evaluate and compare the acute complications of short-course (SC) and long-course (LC) radiotherapy. Method: We studied ۱۰۰ patients suffering from rectal cancer, who referred to Nemazee Hospital before their surgery, in this cross-sectional study. The patients were divided into two categories: SC (۲۵ grays radiotherapy at ۵ fractions in ۵ days) and LC (chemoradiotherapy with a dose of ۴۵-۵۰.۴ grays in ۲۵- ۲۸ fraction in ۵-۶ weeks with concurrent Capecitabine (۸۲۵ mg / m۲) twice daily and five days a week). Subsequently, we evaluated them for acute complications in the SC group ۱۰-۱۴ days after the end of the treatment and in the LC group at intervals of the treatment, the end of it and ۲ weeks afterwards. Results: In the LC group compared to the SC group, the percentage of patients with grade ۱ diarrhea, grade ۲ colitis and grade ۱ cystitis at the end of the treatment was statistically different (p <۰.۰۰۱, P=۰.۰۴۶, P=۰.۰۳۶ ). In addition, the total number of the patients with grade ۱ and ۲ dermatitis was higher in the LC group compared with that in the SC group (P=۰.۰۴۶). We observed no significant differences between the two groups concerning the severe acute complications (P>۰.۰۵). Conclusion: This study implied that there were no significant differences regarding severe acute complication between the two groups.

Keywords:

Radiotherapy , Rectal Nesoplasms , Side-effects