PURPOSE: Simple hysterectomy is not a standard surgery for invasive cervical carcinoma. This study was performed to investigate the efficacy of radiotherapy following simple hysterectomy in the invasive cervical cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis was done for 19 patients with invasive cervical carcinoma who were treated with radiotherapy following simple hysterectomy from April 1989 to December 1993. The median age of patients was 47 years old. Patients were treated with external beam radiation therapy alone (17) or external beam radiation therapy plus intra vaginal ovoid irradiation (2). The median follow up period was 46 months. RESULTS: The 4 year overall survival rate was 75%. The 4 year local control rate was 89%. Two patients had recurred at the locoregional and distant sites, and another two patients at distant sites. CONCLUSION: We confirmed that radiotherapy is the adequate treatment modality for patients with invasive cervical cancer who underwent simple hysterectomy.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Middle Aged ; Radiotherapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

PURPOSE: This study was carried out to determine the protective effects of vitamin C on the hepatotoxicity induced by radiation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Spraque Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups; the control group, the radiation exposed group, and the radiation and vitamin C-treated group. SOD activity, catalase, malondialdehyde and liver enzymes were analyzed to assess the antioxidant effects of vitamin C. RESULTS: The increased level of malondialdehyde and the decreased catalase activity that were induced by radiation were improved after vitamin C but there was no statistical significance among three groups. The superoxide dismutase activity of the liver was increased by vitamin C, but there were no statistically significant differences between the vitamin C-treated group and the non vitamin C-treated group. The level of liver enzymes in sera such as glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, lactate dehyrogenase and alkaline phosphatase were remarkably elevated by radiation. The levels of those enzymes were decreased in the vitamin C-treated group and statistical significance was noted for the GPT level (p<0.01). On the lectromicrographic findings, the hepatic cell destruction was considerably decreased in the vitamin C-treated group. CONCLUSION: Vitamin C is thought to be an effective antioxidant against the hepatotoxicity induced by radiation.
Alanine Transaminase ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; Ascorbic Acid* ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Catalase ; Hepatocytes ; Lactic Acid ; Liver ; Malondialdehyde ; Rats ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Vitamins*