Table 2. Pros and cons of pre vs. postoperative radiotherapy.

Factor	Preoperative	Postoperative
Patient population	Decision based on clinical staging	Decision based on pathological staging
Toxicity burden	Toxicity of preoperative therapy may preclude surgery	Toxicity of surgery may preclude the use of postoperative therapy
Timing of surgery	Need to be delayed until completion of surgery	For all patients as first modality
Treatment volume	Generally smaller	Generally larger
Dose effect	Require less dose for the same local control benefit	Require more dose for the same local control benefit