title: Definitive radiotherapy for uterine cervix cancer: long term results for patients treated in the period from 1998 till 2002 at the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this retrospective study was to analyse results of the two-dimensional (2D) uterine cervix cancer treatment at the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana from 1998 till 2002, before the three-dimensional (3D) approach was introduced in our clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-eight patients with the following FIGO stage distribution were analysed: 10% IB, 7% IIA, 37% IIB, 4% IIIA and 42% IIIB. The influence of age, haemoglobin level, histology, grade, stage, lymph node status, cumulative point A dose, and an overall treatment time on the survival and local control (LC) were evaluated. Acute and late side effects were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five and 8-year overall survival (OS), disease specific survival (DSS) and LC rate were as follows: 47.2% and 43.0%, 54.7% and 53.4%, 74.9% and 72.5%, respectively. Point A dose and histology of the tumour influenced OS, positive lymph nodes DSS and point A dose LC rate. Probability of grade three and four late complications in the first five years was 7.1% for gastrointestinal tract and 3.3% for genitourinary system and vagina.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Point A dose was independent predictor of OS and LC rate, lymph node status predicted DSS, while histology of the tumour influenced OS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Zaloška 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
authors.forename: Helena Barbara Zobec
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Logar
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Segedin
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hudej
authors.forename: Primoz
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Petric
keywords: brachytherapy; external beam radiotherapy; uterine cervix cancer