Results of stage III carcinoma of the uterine cervix treated by conformation radiotherapy

From 1967 through 1982, 206 patients with stage III carcinoma of the uterine cerix were treated by conformation radiotherapy. In the first half of the period (group A), external irradiation alone was used, while in the second half (group B), intracavitary irradiation with a low dose-rate was applied in combination with external irradiation. The two-year local control rate was 56.9 % in group A and 81.5 % in group B. With the combined use of intracavitary irradiation, the five-year actuarial survival rate was also improved from 45.5 % in group A to 59.7 % in group B. At the same time, the frequency of late injury of the rectum, sigmoid colon and the urinary bladder was also decreased with the use of small sources. It can be concluded that the combined application of intracavitary irradiation and external irradiation is important to improve the treatment results of stage III carcinoma of the uterine cervix. (author)