[Exclusive radiotherapy of stage Ib cervix carcinoma]

From January 1st 1970 to December 31 1987, 178 consecutive cervical cancer Ib patients were treated at the Istituto del Radio, University of Brescia, by means of radiotherapy alone. In spite of the negative selection of the patients (advanced age, poor general conditions, associated pathologies) the results were good: 5-year cumulative survival was 86.5%, with a total failure rate of 13.5% (24 failures: 18 in the pelvis, 3 metastases and 3 both). The incidence of major complications (G2-G3-G4 of the Italian-French glossary) was 20% (36 patients): 19 G2, 15 G3 and 2 G4. The results in terms of survival and complications were related to the prognostic factors of the tumor (histology, grading, tumor size), of the patient (age, Karnofsky scale, associated pathologies, number of erythrocytes and hemoglobin rate) and treatment modalities (total dose, fractionation, combination of intracavitary brachytherapy and external beam).