Role of radiotherapy in the management of cervical carcinoma.
Different therapy schemes related with the stage of tumours are reported, after general considerations on the topic. We have evaluated various criteria for the choice of methods, pointing out the complications of therapy. Lithium-carbonate action during radiation therapy has been studied, valuing the positive effect on leukopoiesis and the consequent better clinical conditions of the patients in course of treatment. In this study we report our experience with regard to 21 patients affected by cervical neoplasia, histologically diagnosed. The stages of neoplasia in the 21 patients were so distributed: 10 at stage I B, 8 at stage II A, 3 at stage II B. Treatment consisted of three therapeutical techniques: 1) application of radium in the cervical canal and in the vaginal fornices; 2) surgical procedure; 3) application of radium against the vaginal vault. In agreement with other author's results, the histological exam of the surgical specimen confirmed in different cases the complete absence of neoplastic aspects following the pre-operative radiotherapy. Although our experience is limited, we hold that radio-surgical "sandwich" treatment of cervical carcinoma may represent an excellent therapy in young women and in patients with associated systemic diseases. The follow-up of the 21 patients has excluded up to this day any neoplasia. In this program pre-operative intracavitary radiotherapy is a primary step allowing, in the majority of the cases, the reduction of surgical radicality. In so doing, effective therapeutical results associated with a better quality of life are obtained.
Traina
V
V
I Gynaecological Institute, University of Bari, Italy.
Restaino
A
A
Putignano
G
G
Miniello
G
G
Malvasi
A
A
Martulli
B
B
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery