Quantitative short-term study of Anal sphincter function after chemoradiation for rectal cancer

Hypothesis: Pelvic irradiation adversely affects anal sphincter function after proctectomy with coloanal anastomosis for low rectal and middle rectal (,10 cm from the anal verge) tumors. Design: Case-control study. Setting: Private, tertiary care referral center. Patients: Patients treated for low rectal adenocarcinoma between January 1, 1994, and October 31, 1999. Interventions: Anal manometric data were prospectively collected at the time of initial diagnosis and before ileostomy closure. Main Outcome Measures: Mean and maximum resting pressures (RPs) and squeeze pressures, threshold volume for sensation, and maximal tolerable volume. Results: Twenty-three patients in the surgery group and 19 in the chemoradiotherapy group were considered fo