Organ or sphincter preservation for rectal cancer. The role of contact X-ray brachytherapy in a monocentric series of 112 patients

•Contact X-ray Brachytherapy (CXB) is a unique technique safe and efficient of endoscopic irradiation for rectal cancer.•CXB with chemo radiotherapy can safely escalate the dose and provide organ preservation in selected rectal cancers.•The European OPERA randomized trial should bring evidence for organ preservation using CXB in rectal cancer.