[Preoperative radiotherapy in stage I endometrial cancer. I. 5-year survival]

The results of treatments applied to 25 patients with stage I adenocarcinoma of the endometrium, are presented. The patients were attended between 1979 to 1984 at the Oncology Service of the Hospital 20 de Noviembre in Mexico City. Three successive methods of treatments were used: preoperative external radiation to the pelvis with telecobalt, using a dose of 5000 cGy in 6-7 weeks. Subsequently, one apparatus containing two capsules of radium of 20 or 15 mg within intravaginal applicator made of flexible plastic inserted in a vaginal acrylic cylinder; the dose given was 5000 cGy at vaginal mucosa. Finally, total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. The following results were obtained from the five years control period: 92 per cent of the patients were cured and without incidence of intrapelvic tumoral recidivation.