Sixty patients, treated with postoperative radiation therapy following radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy for stage lb carcinoma of the uterine cervix between Jan. 1980 and Dec. 1984 at Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, were retrospectively analysed. The minimum follow-up period was 5 years. The indications for postoperative radiotherapy were positive pelvic lymph node (34 pts), a large tumor size more than 3 cm in longest diameter (18 pts), positive surgical margin (10 pts), deep stromal invasion (10 pts), and lymphatic permeation (9 pts). The overall 5-year survival rate was 81.8%. The univariate analysis of prognostic factors disclosed tumor size (less than 3cm, greater than or equal to 3cm) and the status of the surgical margin (positive, negative) as significant factors (tumor size; 88.1% vs 6.3%, surgical margin; 85.5% vs 60%, p less than 0.05). Age (less than or equal to 40, greater than 40 yrs) was marginally significant (90.2% vs 73.1%, p less than 0.1). Multivariate analysis clarified two independent prognostic factors; tumor size (p = 0.010) and surgical margin (p = 0.004). Analysis of the tumor factors with the radiation dose disclosed a better survival rate for patients with a positive surgical margin who were given over 50 Gy than for those who were given below 50 Gy in patients (4/4, 100% vs 2/6, 33.4%; p = 0.06). Significant complications requiring surgical correction were not observed. In conclusion, it is believed that the status of the surgical margin and tumor size both have important prognostic significance, and that a radiation dose over 50 Gy is advisable for patients with a positive surgical margin.
Adult ; Carcinoma/mortality/*radiotherapy/surgery ; Cervix Neoplasms/mortality/*radiotherapy/surgery ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Human ; Hysterectomy ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility of surgical management for patients with locally advanced carcinomas of uterine cervix after radical radiation therapy who were prone to develop central recurrence.

METHODSThese 40 patients were treated by combined pre-operative radiotherapy with dose at point A of > 70 Gy in 30 patients, 60 approximately 70 Gy in 7, 50 approximately 59 Gy in 2 and 44 Gy in 1. The interval between radiation and surgery was 1 - 6 weeks. Extrafascial hysterectomy was performed in 15 patients, subradical hysterectomy in 23 and radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy in 2 cases.

RESULTSThese patients have been followed up for 1 - 8 years with 2 died of other diseases and 12 died of cancer. Eighteen of the 26 survivors have been followed up for more than 5 years. The 3- and 5-year survival rates were 74.9% and 66.8%. Half of the death occurred within the first year after treatment. The 2-year death rate was 9/12 (75.0%). Three patients suffered from long term complications after the treatment, but all were cured by conservative management.

CONCLUSIONThe combination of hysterectomy performed shortly after radical radiotherapy, ie, for patients with locally poor prognostic cervical carcinoma is reasonable and feasible.

Adult ; Cervix Uteri ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Survival Rate ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; mortality ; radiotherapy ; surgery