Aims: To evaluate the incidence of, and factors affecting, late toxicities of women with carcinoma of the cervix treated with radical radiotherapy.
Materials and methods: Between 1996 and 2001, 1069 women with carcinoma of the cervix (stage I-IVA) were treated at our centre with external-beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and intra-cavitary radiotherapy (ICRT) (n = 871) or EBRT alone (n = 198). Median follow-up was 34 months. Median dose to point A was 81 Gy.
Results: Five-year actuarial incidence of overall (all grades) and severe (grade 3/4) late toxicities in the rectum, bladder, small intestine and subcutaneous tissue were 12.3% and 1.1%, 11.2% and 1.2%, 9.2% and 0.2%, and 23.1% and 1.2%, respectively. Vaginal adhesions were seen in 29.6% of cases and stenosis in 33.9% of cases. On multivariate analysis, factors adversely affecting overall incidence of proctitis were anterior-posterior (AP) separation of patient more than 18 cm and presence of comorbid diseases. Presence of comorbid diseases was the only factor affecting the incidence of severe proctitis (grade 3/4). AP separation more than 18 cm adversely affected the incidence of cystitis, both overall and severe. Late toxicities (all grades) in small bowel were increased in subsets, like women younger than 50 years and women with comorbid diseases, but no factor emerged as significant for incidence of severe toxicities. Subcutaneous fibrosis was significantly higher in patients with AP separation over 18 cm, those treated by cobalt machines and those who received EBRT only. Severe subcutaneous fibrosis was influenced by the use of EBRT alone. Overall incidence of vaginal toxicity was higher in women whose overall treatment time (OTT) was shorter and in women who received ICRT. Vaginal stenosis was higher in elderly women and in women who received ICRT by low dose rate.
Conclusions: Even with telecobalt machines, impressive results with acceptable late toxicity can be achieved in the treatment of cancer of the cervix using an ideal combination of EBRT with ICRT.