title: Use of high dose rate gammamed brachytherapy in the palliative treatment of gynaecological cancer.
abstract: From January 1992 to December 1993, 24 patients with advanced and incurable malignancies of the female genital tract were treated at the Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Singapore General Hospital, with high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy. Results from the evaluation of these patients showed an overall complete palliation of symptoms in 16 of 23 (69.5%) patients. Total cessation of bleeding was observed in 14 of 20 (70%) and pain relief in two of three (66.6%). Of the 16 patients who exhibited full symptomatic response, almost half (43.7%) had clinical complete resolution of their local disease at last follow-up. Acute complications following treatment were minimal and only in one was intervention required to stop radiation haemorrhagic cystitis. We conclude that the use of HDR brachytherapy either alone or in combination with external beam radiotherapy can provide effective palliation for malignant tumours involving the female genital tract with minimal acute toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Singapore General Hospital.
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000379:methods*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology