[Curietherapy-surgery for epidermoid carcinomas of the uterine cervix T1]

Between 1975 and 1985, we have treated 157 patients with carcinoma of the cervix T1. The size of the tumor was always equal or less than 30 mm. Our patient underwent Cesium 137 brachytherapy with Fletchers applicators followed by a modified radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy 4 to 6 weeks later. Intracavitary brachytherapy was performed within three days (low dose rate 0.8-1 Gy/h). The median 60 Gy Isodose was: 65 mm height, 58 mm width and 29 mm thickness. At surgical time we mentioned that vaginal cut out was 2-3 cm and pelvic lymphadenectomy limited to external iliac nodes. The 5 and 10 disease Free Survival was respectively 91.6 and 89.4%. We observed 14 relapses, five were distant metastases only. The tumor size and pelvic node involvement were the main prognostic factors in our data. The sterilization of the cervix wasn't of prognostic value. Complications occurred in 22 patients, 2 (1.3%) were severe urinary injury.