ANASTOMOTIC SARCOMA OF IRRADIATED PARABIONT RATS.

Summary In a series of 1003 pairs of parabiosed rats, in which the right partner of each pair received 1000 rads total-body irradiation, the incidence of soft-part sarcomas at the anastomotic site was 8.7%. The incidence in other parts of the irradiated partner was 5.8%, and in the nonirradiated partner it was 0.3%. A combination of whole-body irradiation plus local factors of continuing trauma and scar formation is thought to account for the higher incidence of sarcomas in the anastomotic region. Systemic factors such as the endocrines may also play a secondary role.