Computed tomography-detected hydrometra before irradiation for cancer of the cervix.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the risk and outcome of women with pretreatment CT-detected hydrometra who were treated by radiation for cancer of the cervix.


METHODS
Between 1979 and 1995, 27 women with cervical cancer and a pretreatment CT scan of the pelvic cavity underwent definitive radiotherapy (pelvic teleirradiation and intracavitary brachytherapy). We compared the survival and morbidity in women with [n = 12] and without [n = 15] CT-diagnosed hydrometra.


RESULTS
Only one patient from the group with hydrometra was found to have pyometra. There were no statistical differences between the compared groups with respect to patient age, disease stage or applied total radiation doses. The estimated survival at 3 years was 35 +/- 27% for women with and 56 +/- 26% for patients without CT-detected hydrometra [p > 0.20] the corresponding morbidity rates were 25 +/- 26% and 0% [p < 0.05].


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of hydrometra may heighten the morbidity risk even though pyometra is seldom observed in patients with cervical cancer treated by radiation.
Ampil
F L
FL
Department of Radiology (Division of Radiation Oncology), Louisiana State University Medical Center Shreveport, USA.
Bell
M C
MC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*