Ultrasonic assessment of efficacy of radiotherapy in cases of carcinoma of the cervix uteri by using rectosonography.
To assess the efficacy of radiotherapy in carcinoma of the cervix uteri, we used transrectal radial scan ultrasonography with the purpose of making an objective evaluation. The subjects were 29 patients with carcinoma of the cervix uteri who had radiotherapy between October 1984 and October 1986. Six cases (non-effective cases) showed localized relapse within 2 years of the end of radiotherapy. Transrectal radial scans were performed before, during, and at the end of radiotherapy, as well as two and six months after the end of radiotherapy. The characteristic ultrasound findings in the non-effective cases after radiotherapy were as follows: 1) increasing width of the parametrial echo; 2) a band or massive type parametrial echo; 3) a high intensity parametrial echo; 4) a rough contour of the parametrial echo, and 5) an increase in the size of the uterine cervix. It is considered that rectosonography is a useful diagnostic method for checking the therapeutic effect of radiotherapy in cervical carcinoma, and for the early detection of patients with poor prognosis.
Kochi
T
T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Okayama University Medical School, Japan.
Akamatsu
N
N
Sekiba
K
K
D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000532:radiotherapy