ABSTRACT
Rectal cancer is a common health problem in the USA, with an estimated 34 700 cases and 8 700 deaths in 1999.1 It spans a wide spectrum of presentations, from superficial, favorable disease that may be managed with limited procedures, through locally advanced and metastatic disease. While there may not be a clear ‘standard of care’ for the management of rectal cancer in the USA, this chapter will review common radiotherapeutic approaches used in this country for early-stage rectal cancers. The management of locally advanced and metastatic disease will not be included in this review.
