Hypofractionated radiotherapy in carcinoma cervix IIIB: Tata Memorial Hospital experience.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the role of hypofractionated radiotherapy in advanced carcinoma of cervix.


METHODS
Medical records of 62 women with advanced carcinoma cervix III3 treated during 1994-1996 were reviewed. Patients were treated with standard pelvic portals to a total dose of 39Gy in 13 fractions over 17 days followed by intracavitary brachytherapy. Forty-eight patients completed the planned treatment and were considered suitable for analysis of late reactions and survival.


RESULTS
The 5-year disease free survival was 59% and the overall survival was 50% at the mean follow up of 40 months. Twenty-one (44%) patients developed acute gastrointestinal toxicity of which 5 patients had grade III and one patient had grade IV reaction. Ten patients (21%) developed acute genitourinary complications, 13 patients (27%) had late rectal reactions and 10 patients (20%) had late bladder complications. Three patients had grade I, five had grade II and five had grade III late rectal toxicity.


CONCLUSIONS
Survival in patients treated hypofractionated radiotherapy appears comparable to that of standard fractionation. The acute gastrointestinal and skin reactions were mainly grade I or grade II. Hypofractionated radiotherapy can certainly be considered in a select group of patients where the local disease is extensive and is unsuitable for conventional treatment.
Muckaden
M A
MA
Dept. of Radiation Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai 400 012, Maharashtra, India.
Budrukkar
A N
AN
Tongaonkar
H B
HB
Dinshaw
K A
KA
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D000328:Adult; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D015996:Survival Rate; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*