title: High dose rate Cobalt-60 after loading intracavitary therapy of the uterine cervical carcinoma in Srinagarind Hospital, analysis of residual disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate residual disease in uterine cervical cancer patients treated with teletherapy using combined high dose rate Cobalt-60 brachytherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of uterine cervical cancer patients, FIGO stages IB-IVB (International Federation of Gynecologists and Obstetricians recommendations), treated by radiotherapy alone between April 1986 and December 1988 was conducted and the outcomes analysed. The patients were treated using 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 covered 141 patients with uterine cervical cancer. The mean age was 50.0 years with a range of 30-78 years. The mean tumor size was 4.1 cm in diameter (range 1-8 cm). Mean follow - up time was 2.94 years (range 1 month-6.92 years). The overall incidence of residual locoregional disease was 3.5%. Residual disease, according to stage IIB, IIIB and IVA was present in 2.78%, 3.37% and 50.0%. It was noted that there was no evidence of residual disease in stage IB and IIA cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combined teletherapy along with high dose rate Cobalt -60 brachytherapy of 850 cGy/fraction, weekly to point A for 2 fractions resulted in overall 3.5% residual disease and a 96.5% complete response. The proposed recommendation for improving outcome is initiation of measurements for early detection of disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiotherapy, Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 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 / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001918:Brachytherapy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D011867:Radioisotope Teletherapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*
chemical_list: D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes