title: Short-course palliative radiotherapy for uterine cervical cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of short-course hypofractionated radiotherapy (RT) for the palliation of uterine cervical cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen patients with cancer of the uterine cervix, who underwent palliative hypofractionated 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy between January 2002 and June 2012, were retrospectively analyzed. RT was delivered to symptomatic lesions (both the primary mass and/or metastatic regional lymph nodes). The total dose was 20 to 25 Gy (median, 25 Gy) in 5 Gy daily fractions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median follow-up duration was 12.2 months (range, 4 to 24 months). The median survival time was 7.8 months (range, 4 to 24 months). Vaginal bleeding was the most common presenting symptom followed by pelvic pain (9 patients). The overall response rates were 93.8% and 66.7% for vaginal bleeding control and pelvic pain, respectively. Nine patients did not have any acute side effects and 7 patients showed minor gastrointestinal toxicity. Only 1 patient had grade 3 diarrhea 1 week after completion of treatment, which was successfully treated conservatively. Late complications occurred in 4 patients; however, none of these were of grade 3 or higher severity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short-course hypofractionated RT was effective and well tolerated as palliative treatment for uterine cervical cancer.
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
authors: Dong Hyun
authors: DH
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
authors: Ju Hye
authors: JH
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
authors: Yong Kan
authors: YK
authors: Ki
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Korea.
authors: Ji Ho
authors: JH
authors: Nam
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea. ; Department of Radiation Oncology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors: Won Taek
authors: WT
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Korea.
authors: Ho Sang
authors: HS
authors: Jeon
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
authors: Dahl
authors: D
authors: Park
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea. ; Department of Radiation Oncology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors: Dong Won
authors: DW
authors: Kim
keywords: Carcinoma; Cervix uteri; Hypofractionation; Palliation; Radiotherapy