title: Radiotherapy alone and chemoirradiation in recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the role of radiotherapy alone or combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of recurrent vulvar cancer, emphasising the prognostic factors and outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty women with loco-regional recurrence of vulvar carcinoma were retrospectively reviewed. Eleven patients were managed with a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, seven out of these with concomitant radio-chemotherapy and four with neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. Nine patients were submitted to radiotherapy alone. The total dose of radiation therapy ranged from 30 Gy to 70 Gy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median follow-up was 6 months (range 2-70 months). The 5-year overall and disease-free survival for the entire cohort was 20%. The outcomes included 6 complete response (CR), 10 partial response (PR) and 4 no change (NC). Patients with one site of recurrence and size of lesion < or = 3 cm were long survivors and disease-free at 5 years; all these women received a total dose of radiation therapy > or = 6480 cGy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We emphasize the importance of the number, site and diameter of recurrences as prognostic indicators; the outcomes of these patients were also affected by the total dose of radiation therapy.
authors.affiliation: Chair of Radiotherapy, University of L'Aquila, Department of Experimental Medicine, Radiotherapy Unit of S. Salvatore Hospital, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Raffetto
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tombolini
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santarelli
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valeriani
authors.forename: Domenico A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Galla
authors.forename: Riccardo Maurizi
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Enrici
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014846:Vulvar Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*