title: Treatment of cervical carcinoma with high-dose rate intracavitary brachytherapy: two years follow-up study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study focused on pelvic recurrence rate and late complications following treatment with high dose rate brachytherapy with a three fractionation scheme.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective observational study was conducted from 1st November 2003 to 31st March 2005 at a tertiary care centre.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women were treated with external beam radiotherapy and three fractions of high dose rate brachytherapy, divided into two broad groups IIB+ IIIA and IIIB+IVA. Duration of follow-up was 2 years and main outcome measures were recurrence and rectal and urinary bladder complications. Results were assessed with the Chi square test and P-values using an alpha level of 0.05 for Type I error.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the total of 286 women, 72 (25.4%) developed central-regional recurrence. Overall two year pelvic control rate was 74.6%, with values of 78.1% and 72.8% for stages IIB+ IIIA, IIIB+IVA, respectively. Five women developed distant metastasis and 21.5% suffered low grade rectal complications. After two years the prevalence of bladder complications was only 5.4%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using a three fraction scheme, high dose rate brachytherapy is safe and effective in the management of cervix cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, NRS Medical College, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Diptimay
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Snehamay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chaudhuri
authors.forename: Asit Ranjan
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Deb
authors.forename: Ranen Kanti
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Aich
authors.forename: Subir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gangopadhyay
authors.forename: Amitava
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ray
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000556:secondary; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018196:Carcinoma, Adenosquamous / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000556:secondary; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000556:secondary; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011832:Radiation Injuries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*