Liquid Nitrogen in Palliative Treatment of Low Rectal and Anal Carcinoma

Abstract

Up to the present, the only curative method of treating rectal cancer has been radical surgery, i. e. continuity resection or rectal amputation with the construction of a terminal artificial anus. All other available treatments such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, electrocoagulation, administration of enzmye or mistletoe preparations, or hyperthermia can only be regarded as palliative or additive. All authors — including ourselves — agree that the extent of cryonecrosis cannot be determined accurately without histological examination, even when cryosurgery of the carcinoma is performed using liquid nitrogen. Hence, one cannot reliably ensure complete destruction of the tumour or the radicality of the operation. The indication for the use of cryotherapy alone must be restricted correspondingly.