Diseases of the colon and rectum
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Preoperative radiotherapy improves local control in rectal cancer treatment, but there are few reports on the influence of radiotherapy on anorectal function. The aim of the present study was to assess late effects of short-course, high-dose radiotherapy on anorectal function after low anterior resection for rectal cancer. ⋯ Short-course radiotherapy, including the anal sphincters, impairs anorectal function and increases gastrointestinal symptoms permanently when the anal sphincters are irradiated.