Abstract
Introduction: A combination of external beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy is the standard therapy for advanced cervical cancer. Some patients can not receive brachytherapy, so are given larger doses of exclusive external radiotherapy. Describes the results obtained with this treatment modality.
Methods: In a retrospective study, between July 1997 and August 2005, evaluating patients treated in Cancer Institute Core SOLCA Loja. Variables is characterized age, stage, end of treatment response, overall treatment time, overall survival, late morbidity. We present data using summary measures of central tendency and the survival curve using the Kaplan Meier method and the statistical program SPSS 20.0.
Results: 25 patients with a median age of 65 years, cancer stage IIIB and IV received a median of 68 Gy with exclusive external radiotherapy at a median of 65 days overall treatment time. Clinical response was complete in 9 patients (36%) clinical residual tumor remaining 16 (64%). At 5 years follow-up, 6 patients (24%) were alive without locoregional tumor activity data in the remaining 19 patients (76%), there locoregional failure. Morbidity low and comparable to that reported in the literature.
Conclusion: The exclusive external radiotherapy does not offer satisfactory results. It should be emphasized the need to achieve curative doses with brachytherapy.