The treatment of Stage IV carcinoma of cervix by radical dose radiotherapy

During 1974-1979, 92 patients (14% of all carcinoma cervix cases) were assigned to Stage IV; 68 (10%) to Stage IVa and 24 (4%) to Stage IVb. Fifty-five patients were treated radically using 4 MeV X-rays (42.5 Gy in 20 fractions) followed by a 137Cs insertion (33.5 Gy to the A points). Twenty-six patients were treated palliatively and 11 received no treatment. Sixteen percent of radically treated patients were alive at 5 years, whereas all patients treated palliatively were dead in 18 months. Pelvic tumour was eliminated in 22/55 (40%) treated radically, but in only 1/26 treated palliatively. The 5-year survival for Stage IVa treated radically was 18% and 19/44 (43%) had local tumour control. Only one patient in Stage IVb (involvement of vulva) was alive at 5 years. The overall 5-year survival for Stage IV patients in this series was 11/92 (12%). 12 refs.; 2 figs.; 3 tabs