Radiotherapy for cancer of the cervix in morbidly obese women: preliminary results

A retrospective four-year review showed that six morbidly obese (> or = 40 kg/m2) women, two of whom underwent pre-irradiation simple hysterectomy, were definitively treated with radiation for cancer of the cervix. All cases were FIGO stage IB. The average age was 49 years and average body mass index 49 kg/m2. Radiotherapy consisted of external beam pelvic irradiation and low-dose rate or high-dose rate brachytherapy applications. During a follow-up period ranging from 9 to 46 months, all women were alive and free of neoplastic disease as well as complications. Albeit long-term outcome data are not yet available, we believe that morbidly obese women with early stage cervical cancer who are not suitable candidates for curative surgery may derive beneficial effects from appropriately applied definitive radiotherapy.