title: Cervical cancer (cervix uteri).
abstract: This synthesis of the literature on radiotherapy for cervical cancer (cervix uteri) is based on 59 scientific articles, including 8 randomized studies, 1 prospective study, and 36 retrospective studies. These studies involve 34,024 patients. Due to favorable anatomy and exceptionally good radiation tolerance of nearby pelvic organs, particularly the uterus, radiotherapy has become the dominant treatment method for cervical cancer. Surgery alone is used at the earliest stages where small tumor volumes are involved. Further pathological findings, where cancer is more extensive than expected preoperatively, or when lymph node metastases are discovered, motivate postoperative radiotherapy even at early stages. There is general agreement that advanced cervical cancer should be treated by radiotherapy alone. Clinical trials are under way that combine radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and even surgery. Two different methods of intracavitary brachytherapy are currently in use, low-dose rate therapy and high-dose rate therapy. High-dose rate therapy appears to be economically more favorable. The possibility of higher risks for later complications associated with high-dose rate therapy has not been fully studied.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Einhorn
mesh_terms: D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery