Palliative benefit of radiation therapy in advanced ovarian cancer.
Fifty-five courses of palliative radiation therapy were given to patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer previously treated with platinum-based chemotherapy. The treatments were evaluated for their effectiveness in palliating a variety of symptoms (bowel obstructions, pulmonary metastases causing dyspnea, CNS metastases causing dizziness and mental status changes, lower-extremity edema, pain, and vaginal bleeding and discharge). In addition, the time commitment to therapy and the symptom-free interval relative to the patient's survival from the initiation of radiation therapy were evaluated to assess true palliative benefit.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Vermont, Burlington 05401.
L F
LF
May
J L
JL
Belinson
T A
TA
Roland
D002277:Carcinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000532:radiotherapy; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D010166:Palliative Care; D013534:Survival; D013997:Time Factors; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D014623:Vaginal Diseases / Q000209:etiology