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Carcinoma of the vagina
Author(s) -
Marcus Robert B.,
Million Rodney R.,
Daly James W.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(197811)42:5<2507::aid-cncr2820420555>3.0.co;2-l
Subject(s) - medicine , radium , complication , radiation therapy , pelvis , surgery , carcinoma , vagina , brachytherapy , stage (stratigraphy) , radiation treatment planning , nuclear medicine , paleontology , physics , nuclear physics , biology
Twenty‐two patients with Stage I through IV primary vaginal squamous cell carcinomas treated for cure with radiation therapy are reviewed, with particular emphasis on the relationship of dose to complications and local control. All but 2 patients received 4000 to 6000 rad whole pelvis irradiation plus at least one radium application. Local control was 91%, with an absolute 2‐year disease‐free survival of 82%. The degree of anaplasia was found to influence prognosis, with all local and distant failures resulting from high‐grade lesions. The complication rate was modest, with no fistulae or serious bowel complications. An analysis of total dose (external plus radium) with respect to local failure and complications showed that no major complications occurred at a combined dose below 9000 rad. An analysis of the individual contributions of external irradiation and radium implants showed that all but one very minor complication occurred at a radium dose of 4000 rad or higher. From these data, overall treatment planning and total dose recommendations are made. Cancer 42:2507–2512, 1978.