title: High dose rate cobalt-60 afterloading intracavitary therapy of uterine cervical carcinomas in Srinagarind hospital - analysis of complications.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate complications in uterine cervical cancer patients treated with teletherapy combined with high dose rate(HDR) cobalt-60 brachytherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of uterine cervical cancer patients, stages IB-IVB (International Federation of Gynecologists and Obstetricians recommendations), treated by radiotherapy alone between April 1986 and December 1988 was conducted. The patients received teletherapy 50 Gy / 25 fractions, five fractions per week to the whole pelvis together with HDR Cobalt -60 afterloading brachytherapy of 850 cGy/ fraction weekly to point A for 2 fractions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study subjects were 141 patients with uterine cervical cancer. The mean age was 49 years with a range of 30-78. The mean tumor size was 4.1 cms in diameter (range 1-8 cms ). Mean follow-up time was 2.9 years (range 1 month - 6.9 years). The treatments resulted in a 96.5% complete response rates but morbidity rates of grade 1 and grade 2 radiation proctitis of 27.0%, and 10.6 %. The grade 1 and grade 2 radiation cystitis were 1.4%, and 1.4 %. At the level of grade 3 radiation complications, 0.71% of radiation proctitis and 0.71% small bowel obstruction were observed. The mean onset time to develop radiation proctitis after complete treatment was 15 months with a range of 6-61 months, for radiation cystitis was 30 months (range 9 - 47 months) and for small bowel obstruction was 53 months in the one case it occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combined teletherapy along with high dose rate Cobalt -60 brachytherapy of 850 cGy/ fraction, weekly to point A for 2 fractions for uterine cancer demonstrated a slightly higher incidence of grade 2 radiation proctitis. Therefore, treatment using HDR-60 brachytherapy less than 850 cGy per fractionation for decreasing the grade 2 and grade 3 radiation morbidity is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiotherapy, Department of Radiology, Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Thailand. pmonti@kku.ac.th
authors.forename: Montien
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pesee
authors.forename: Srichai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krusun
authors.forename: Prawat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Padoongcharoen
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011349:Proctitis / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011379:Prognosis; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy*
chemical_list: D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes