Decreased morbidity and increased survival in cervical cancer treatment

Thirty-seven patients with previously untreated invasive carcinoma of the uterine cervix, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stages IB to IVA, were treated with 4,000 rad external beam radiotherapy (EXRT) to midplane, followed by two intracavitary endocurietherapy (ECT) applications of 2,500 rad each to point "A" using a Kumar applicator, for a total dose of 9,000 rad. The major complication rate was 2.7 percent, and the local control rate was 85 percent (22/26 patients) for stages IB and II, and 91 percent (10/11 patients) for stages III and IVA. The three-year uncorrected observed actuarial survival was 80.3 percent for stages IB and II, and 81.8 percent for stages III and IVA. The three-year adjusted actuarial survival rate was 95.2 percent for stages IB and II, and 90.5 percent for stages III and IVA.