PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of radiotherapy in patients with recurrences of cervical carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 26 patients who underwent radiation therapy for recurrences of cervical carcinoma following surgery between 1989 and 1999 were retrospectively analyzed. 17 patients had inoperable or macroscopic residual tumor. Nine patients had a complete/microscopically incomplete tumor resection. Depending on tumor burden and location of the recurrence, external beam radiotherapy or a combination with brachytherapy was delivered to a total dose of 50-65 Gy. RESULTS: The 5-year overall survival was 28%, relapse-free survival 24%, pelvic control 48%. Therapeutic outcome was related to the margins of resection, location of recurrence and technique of radiotherapy. In case of surgery without residual or microscopic tumor, the 5-year survival rate was 67%, with macroscopic tumor no patient was alive after 37 months (p = 0.05). 5-year overall survival was 42% for central recurrences, 10% for recurrences with pelvic wall infiltration. Recurrences confined to the vagina or paravaginal tissue had a higher 5-year overall probability as compared to all other patients (57% vs. 14%). All patients treated with combined radiotherapy were alive, whereas all patients treated only with external radiotherapy were dead after 32 months (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: The probability of controlling recurrence mostly depends on a small tumor burden with the possibility of brachytherapy and/or complete surgery. Aggressive treatment modalities like radiochemotherapy and/or higher radiation doses are needed, especially for recurrences with infiltration of the pelvic wall and/or with macroscopic tumor.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of radiotherapy in patients with recurrences of cervical carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 26 patients who underwent radiation therapy for recurrences of cervical carcinoma following surgery between 1989 and 1999 were retrospectively analyzed. 17 patients had inoperable or macroscopic residual tumor. Nine patients had a complete/microscopically incomplete tumor resection. Depending on tumor burden and location of the recurrence, external beam radiotherapy or a combination with brachytherapy was delivered to a total dose of 50-65 Gy. RESULTS: The 5-year overall survival was 28%, relapse-free survival 24%, pelvic control 48%. Therapeutic outcome was related to the margins of resection, location of recurrence and technique of radiotherapy. In case of surgery without residual or microscopic tumor, the 5-year survival rate was 67%, with macroscopic tumor no patient was alive after 37 months (p = 0.05). 5-year overall survival was 42% for central recurrences, 10% for recurrences with pelvic wall infiltration. Recurrences confined to the vagina or paravaginal tissue had a higher 5-year overall probability as compared to all other patients (57% vs. 14%). All patients treated with combined radiotherapy were alive, whereas all patients treated only with external radiotherapy were dead after 32 months (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: The probability of controlling recurrence mostly depends on a small tumor burden with the possibility of brachytherapy and/or complete surgery. Aggressive treatment modalities like radiochemotherapy and/or higher radiation doses are needed, especially for recurrences with infiltration of the pelvic wall and/or with macroscopic tumor.