Vol 84, No 3 (2013)
ARTICLES
Radiation therapy complications in patients with primary invasive vaginal carcinoma
Paweł Blecharz, Marian Reinfuss, Jerzy Jakubowicz, Piotr Skotnicki, Elżbieta Łuczyńska, Maciej Bodzek, Krzysztof Urbański
DOI: 10.17772/gp/1564
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Ginekol Pol 2013;84(3).
Vol 84, No 3 (2013)
ARTICLES
Abstract
Objectives: The aim of the study was to estimate acute and late complications of radiation therapy in primary invasive vaginal carcinoma (PIVC) patients. Material and methods: The analysis was performed for the group of 152 PIVC patients given radical radiotherapy in the Krakow Branch of Centre of Oncology during the 1967–2005 period. Twenty five (16.5%) patients in I stage with primary tumour of the thickness not larger than 0.5 cm were treated with intracavitary brachytherapy alone; for 120 (78.9%) patients (stages I – IVA) intracavitary brachytherapy was combined with external radiation therapy; and 7 (4.6%) patients in stage IVA were given only external radiotherapy. In total, 145 (95.4%) patients were treated with intracavitary LDR brachyterapy by means of Ra-226 or afterloaded Cs-137 sources, and 127 (83.5%) received external radiation therapy using Co-60 and linac 10MV or 6MV photon beams. Results: Early radiotherapy tolerance was good in the investigated group; 146 (96.1%) patients completed full planned radiation therapy treatment. Late complications of radiation therapy were observed in 21 (13.8%) patients: 3 (2%) patients reported mild complications, 12 (7.9%) moderate complications, and 6 (3.9%) severe complications. Severe complications of radiation therapy in the investigated group included: recto-vaginal fistula (5 patients) and vesico-vaginal fistula (1 patient). None of the patients in the group died of radiation therapy complications. Conclusions: Early tolerance of radiotherapy in PIVC patients is generally good. Late radiation therapy complications, particularly the severe, are rare and can be efficiently managed with conservative therapy or surgical treatment.
Abstract
Objectives: The aim of the study was to estimate acute and late complications of radiation therapy in primary invasive vaginal carcinoma (PIVC) patients. Material and methods: The analysis was performed for the group of 152 PIVC patients given radical radiotherapy in the Krakow Branch of Centre of Oncology during the 1967–2005 period. Twenty five (16.5%) patients in I stage with primary tumour of the thickness not larger than 0.5 cm were treated with intracavitary brachytherapy alone; for 120 (78.9%) patients (stages I – IVA) intracavitary brachytherapy was combined with external radiation therapy; and 7 (4.6%) patients in stage IVA were given only external radiotherapy. In total, 145 (95.4%) patients were treated with intracavitary LDR brachyterapy by means of Ra-226 or afterloaded Cs-137 sources, and 127 (83.5%) received external radiation therapy using Co-60 and linac 10MV or 6MV photon beams. Results: Early radiotherapy tolerance was good in the investigated group; 146 (96.1%) patients completed full planned radiation therapy treatment. Late complications of radiation therapy were observed in 21 (13.8%) patients: 3 (2%) patients reported mild complications, 12 (7.9%) moderate complications, and 6 (3.9%) severe complications. Severe complications of radiation therapy in the investigated group included: recto-vaginal fistula (5 patients) and vesico-vaginal fistula (1 patient). None of the patients in the group died of radiation therapy complications. Conclusions: Early tolerance of radiotherapy in PIVC patients is generally good. Late radiation therapy complications, particularly the severe, are rare and can be efficiently managed with conservative therapy or surgical treatment.
Keywords
radiotherapy, Vaginal Cancer, complications
Title
Radiation therapy complications in patients with primary invasive vaginal carcinoma
Journal
Ginekologia Polska
Issue
Vol 84, No 3 (2013)
Page views
543
Article views/downloads
704
DOI
10.17772/gp/1564
Bibliographic record
Ginekol Pol 2013;84(3).
Keywords
radiotherapy
Vaginal Cancer
complications
Authors
Paweł Blecharz
Marian Reinfuss
Jerzy Jakubowicz
Piotr Skotnicki
Elżbieta Łuczyńska
Maciej Bodzek
Krzysztof Urbański