Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2003, 199 (4)

Results of Radiation Therapy for Uterine Cervical Cancer
Using High Dose Rate Remote After Loading System

YOSHIHIRO OGAWA, KENJI NEMOTO, YOSHIHISA KAKUTO,¹ HISANORI ARIGA,
HARUO MATSUSHITA, KEN TAKEDA, CHIAKI TAKAHASHI, BRITTON GALLARDO,
KEITH RICHARD, YOSHIHIROTAKAI and SHOGO YAMADA

Department of Radiation Oncology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8574, and ¹Department of Radiology, Miyagi Cancer Center, Natori 981-1293

In Japan, radiotherapy with high dose rate remote after loading system (HDR-RALS) for intracavitary brachytherapy is the standard treatment for more than 30 years. This report showed the usefulness of HDR-RALS for uterine cervical cancer. From 1980 through 1999, 442 patients with uterine cervical cancers (stage I: 66, stage II: 161, stage III: 165, stage IV: 50) were treated. Radiotherapy was performed both external teletherapy and HDR-RALS. Overall survival rate at 5 years was 60.2%. The 5-year actuarial incidence of all complications was 16.4%. The 5-year actuarial incidence of all complications in cases treated with the sum doses of whole pelvic irradiation (without central shield) and RALS up to 49 Gy, 50 to 59 Gy or larger doses were 7.5%, 11.0% and 25.2%, respectively. Radiation therapy using HDR-RALS was very effective. While the dose of whole pelvic irradiation was increased, the actuarial incidence of all complications was increased.

Keywords —— radiotherapy; uterine cervical cancer; brachytherapy; RALS

© 2003 Tohoku University Medical Press

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Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2003, 199, 229-238

Address for reprints: Yoshihiro Ogawa, Department of Radiation Oncology, Tohoku University, Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8574, Japan.

e-mail: ogaway@rad.med.tohoku.ac.jp