Reduced toxicity in the treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer: a comparison of volumetric modulated arc therapy and 3D conformal radiotherapy

Table 1 Patient characteristics

Characteristic	3D conformal radiotherapy		Volumetric modulated arc therapy		p
Characteristic	No.	%	No.	%	p
Gender
female	30	28	23	28	0.9570
male	77	72	58	72	0.9570
Age, years
≥70 years	38	36	41	51	0.0378
<70 years	69	64	40	49	0.0378
Body mass index [kg/m²]
<20	2	2	0	0	0.0453
20–24.9	32	30	24	30
25–26.9	15	14	19	24
27–29.9	27	25	27	33
≥30	31	29	11	13
Clinical T category
2	2	2	2	3	0.7843
3	96	90	70	86
4	9	8	9	11
Clinical N category
negative	29	27	18	22	0.4441
positive	78	73	63	78	0.4441
Grading
X	9	8	14	17	0.0806
1	1	1	0	0
2	75	70	60	74
3	21	20	7	9
4	1	1	0	0
Distance from anal verge
0 to <6 cm	40	37	35	43	0.7212
6 to <12 cm	64	60	44	54
12 to 16 cm	3	3	2	3

ISSN: 1471-2407