SIGNIFICANCE OF POSTOPERATIVE IRRADIATION IN CARCINOMA OF THE CERVIX: A TEN YEAR SURVEY

Abstract

The summary of this study can be very short. I set out to answer 3 questions, namely:1. Can total pelvic irradiation be tolerated after a radical hysterectomy has been performed?2. Will late complications outweigh the gain of the combined procedure?3. Have the survival results improved with the 2 methods of treatment?All 3 questions can be answered in the affirmative.Total pelvic irradiation with a tumor dose of 4,000-5,000 rads delivered in 4-5 weeks time has been tolerated extremely well and the late complications have been rare.The results have been encouraging: 39 of the 50 patients have lived more than 5 years, while 22 of the 43 patients who have been followed for a minimum of 10 years are living and well.The breakdown of the 10 year follow-up group shows that 9 patients were classified as Stage I, 29 as Stage II, and 5 as Stage III, although all patients had more advanced disease than had been clinically anticipated and the surgical procedure alone was not able to take care of the disease.The 5 yea...