title: Analysis of complications in patients treated with abdomino-pelvic radiation therapy for ovarian carcinoma.
abstract: Between 1971 and 1985, 598 patients with ovarian carcinoma were treated with abdomino-pelvic radiation therapy. Acute complications included nausea and vomiting in 364 patients (61%) which were severe in 36, and diarrhea in 407 patients (68%), severe in 35. Leukopenia (less than 2.0 x 10(9) cells/liter) and thrombocytopenia (less than 100 x 10(9) cells/liter) occurred in 64 patients (11%) each. Treatment interruptions occurred in 136 patients (23%), and 62 patients (10%) did not complete treatment. In both situations the most common cause was myelosuppression. Late complications included chronic diarrhea in 85 patients (14%), transient hepatic enzyme elevation in 224 (44%), and symptomatic basal pneumonitis in 23 (4%). Serious late bowel complications were infrequent: 25 patients (4.2%) developed bowel obstruction and 16 required operation. Multivariate analysis was unable to determine any significant prognostic factors for bowel obstruction; however, the moving-strip technique of radiation therapy was associated with a significantly greater risk of developing chronic diarrhea, pneumonitis, and hepatic enzyme elevation than was the open beam technique. We conclude that abdomino-pelvic radiation therapy as used in these patients is associated with modest acute complications and a low risk of serious late toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Fyles
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Dembo
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Bush
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Manchul
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Pringle
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Rawlings
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Sturgeon
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Simm
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000528:radiation effects; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D010388:Pelvis / Q000528:radiation effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*