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Radiotherapy as the sole treatment in patients with endometrial cancer – retrospective evaluation of methods and outcomes

Barbara Kozaki

Affiliacja i adres do korespondencji
CURR. GYNECOL. ONCOL. 2011, 9 (2), p. 104-113
Streszczenie

Since 1929, surgical treatment is an accepted treatment for endometrial cancer. Implementation of radiotherapy as an adjunct to surgical excision resulted in improved cure rates in patients with unfavorable prognostic factors. In this group of patients, many are those with internal medical comorbidities coexisting with their endometrial cancer, precluding surgical treatment. The paper presents a retrospective analysis of outcomes obtained using radiotherapy as the sole therapeutic modality since 1968 thru 1985. Study population includes 107 patients aged 43 to 83 years (mean age: 76 years). In 55 patients at clinical stages I and II, surgical treatment was impracticable mostly because of severe comorbidity. Fifty-two patients were at clinical stage III. Brachytherapy by application of Heyman capsules was performed in 75 patients, irradiation from external sources combined with radium brachytherapy using vaginal applicators and uterine probes – in 24 patients, while external beam radiotherapy only – in 8 patients. Upon irradiation, all patients underwent triple fractionated curettage of uterine cavity. Hysteroscopic inspection of uterine cavity is being performed since 1981, combined with collection of tissue samples under visual control for microscopic study. In the entire study population, 5-year survival rate was 47%. In the subgroup treated by Heyman capsules only, 5-year survival rate was 45%. Patients at clinical stages I and III had 5-year survival rates of 56% and 44%, respectively.

Słowa kluczowe
uterine corpus radiotherapy, Heyman capsules, hysterography, hysteroscopy