[Vaginal template implant for cervical carcinoma with vaginal stenosis]

For cervical carcinoma patients with poor geometry for conventional intracavitary radiotherapy, a simple vaginal template for interstitial implantation as a substitute was used. This is a report of the treatment results.

Patients with vaginal stenosis were treated over from July 1987 to June 1991 with this vaginal template implant as part of the treatment. The applicator consisted of a front piece and an end piece. Holes were drilled in the front piece to guide the implantation of the cervix or vaginal vault. The diameter of applicators varied from 2.0 cm to 3.5 cm. Depending on the diameter of the applicators, six to eight needles on the periphery, or eight peripheral plus one central needle were used. The activity of the needles were around 8 mCi with a total length of 5.5 cm. The end piece was locked onto the front piece by a bayonet-type locking device. The purpose of the end piece was two-fold: to make up the length of the whole applicator to fit the vagina and to keep the implanted needles in place without being extruded. The implantation was performed under general anesthesia.

One of the twelve patients treated with the vaginal template implant for vaginal stenosis had relapsed centrally but subsequently died of intercurrent disease. Two other patients died of intercurrent disease at 26.2 and 41.9 months, respectively, without evidence of relapse. Nine other patients had been followed with no evidence of local relapse for 23.7 to 54.6 months.

This vaginal template implantation is satisfactory in treating cervical carcinoma patients with vaginal stenosis.