Abstract

As a current trend in the proper management of rectal cancer, electrocoagulation has been championed by Strauss et at in 1935, later, Crile, Turnbull and Madden et at for many years. Electrocoagulation is believed to be of proved merit at present, if it is indicative for well- selected patients of the rectal cancer. A total of 15 patients were treated with electrocoagulation during March, 1980 to Feb., 1982, at Deparment of Surgery, Kyung Hee Medical Center in Korea. Among a series of 15 cases, 7 patients are alive and well without interfering with daily activity at present, mortality of 4 cases ad 4 patieats had A-P resection after an initial el- ectrocoagulation. Accurate indication(absolute) of electrocoagulation therapy was upmost important factors for long survival as follows; I. Location of the rectal cancer; it was relative length of 8 cm cephalad to anal verge and better to be in posterior or lateral wall of the rectum versus to anterior wall. 2. Size of leaion; the tumor lesion involved less than I/3 of the circumference of the reatum showed much better final outcome for survival rate. Type and nature of growth; the polypoid type of cancer was preferable in prognosis as compared to encircle or ulcerating type of cancer. In the near future the successful multimodality approach of treating rectal cancer has to continue with acholar real for further fruitful autcome.