Radiation therapy of primary vaginal carcinoma

In a series of 22 patients with primary invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the vagina (stage I through IV a), a radical irradiation was planned in 18 and a palliative in the remaining 4 patients. The 5-year survival rate, in the radically irradiated patients, was 10/18 for all stages, and 8/13 for patients of stage I. A vaginal 'boost' irradiation did not seem to improve the results of external irradiation in patients of stage I. Severe adverse effects did not occur.