Radiotherapy following simple hysterectomy in patients with invasive carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

From January 1980 to December 1988, a total of 73 cases of invasive cervical cancer after simple hysterectomy were treated with radiotherapy. Seven patients were excluded due to incomplete treatment or loss of follow-up. Among the 66 patients, 52 had squamous cell carcinoma and 14 had adenocarcinoma or adenosquamous cell carcinoma. The patients were grouped as follows: group A, patients without gross residual tumor (n = 32); group B, patients with gross residual tumor (n = 23); and group C, patients with gross recurrent tumor (n = 11). All patients in groups A and B received radiotherapy immediately (within 4 months) following their simple hysterectomy. Patients in group C were treated six months to five years later. Different methods of radiotherapy were delivered during the two consecutive time periods. Before 1985, patients (n = 30) were irradiated with a dose of 45-50 Gy in the midpelvic plane, followed by a transvaginal boost of 30 Gy. After 1985, patients (n = 36) were treated with the same midpelvic dose, and boosted with 30 Gy by high-dose-rate brachytherapy. The overall five-year survival rate was 67%. The five-year survival rates were 81% in group A, 56% in group B, and 45% in group C. A low complication rate (10%) was obtained in our series.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)