title: High-dose-rate brachytherapy in primary stage I and II vaginal cancer.
abstract: Thirteen patients with primary vaginal cancer were treated with external beam irradiation and high-dose-rate brachytherapy. Median age was 65 years old. Five tumors were stage I, 4 stage IIA, and 4 stage IIB. Twelve tumors were squamous and 11 were moderately or poorly differentiated. Median tumor diameter was 4 cm. Patients were treated with external beam irradiation (4500 cGy) and high-dose-rate brachytherapy (2000-2800 cGy in three to four fractions). All 13 patients had a complete response. Local control was achieved in 12 patients (92%) at a median follow-up of 2.6 years. No acute or chronic intestinal or bladder grade 3 or 4 toxicity was observed. Moderate to severe vaginal stenosis occurred in 6 patients (46%). Treatment of stage I and II primary vaginal cancer with external beam irradiation and high-dose-rate brachytherapy appears to produce a high response rate, local control, and survival with minimal complications.
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield 62794-9230.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Nanavati
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fanning
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Hilgers
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hallstrom
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Crawford
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014625:Vaginal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*