PURPOSE: To determine the patterns of regional recurrence in patients treated with definitive radiotherapy (RT) for cervical cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The records of 198 patients treated with definitive RT for cervical cancer between 1980 and 2000 who experienced a regional recurrence without a central or distal vaginal recurrence were reviewed. All patients received a combination of external-beam RT and intracavitary brachytherapy. In the 180 patients with a documented location of regional recurrence, the relationship between the recurrence and the radiation fields was determined. RESULTS: The median time to regional recurrence was 13 months (range, 2-85 months). Of the 180 patients who had an evaluable regional recurrence, 119 (66%) had a component of marginal failure; 71 patients recurred above-the-field, 2 patients occurred in the inguinal nodes, and 2 patients recurred above-the-field and in the inguinal nodes. In addition, 105 patients (58%) had a component of in-field failure; 59 patients recurred in-field only, 39 patients recurred in-field and above-the-field, 2 patients recurred in-field, above-the-field, and in the inguinal nodes, and 5 patients recurred in-field and in the inguinal nodes. The median survival after regional recurrence was 8 months (range, 0-194 months). CONCLUSIONS: Most regional recurrences after definitive RT for cervical cancer include a component of marginal failure, usually immediately superior to the radiation field. These recurrences suggest a deficiency in target volume. Recurrences also occur in-field, suggesting a deficiency in dose. Developments in pretreatment staging, field delineation, dose escalation, and posttreatment surveillance may help to improve outcome in these patients.
PURPOSE: To determine the patterns of regional recurrence in patients treated with definitive radiotherapy (RT) for cervical cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The records of 198 patients treated with definitive RT for cervical cancer between 1980 and 2000 who experienced a regional recurrence without a central or distal vaginal recurrence were reviewed. All patients received a combination of external-beam RT and intracavitary brachytherapy. In the 180 patients with a documented location of regional recurrence, the relationship between the recurrence and the radiation fields was determined. RESULTS: The median time to regional recurrence was 13 months (range, 2-85 months). Of the 180 patients who had an evaluable regional recurrence, 119 (66%) had a component of marginal failure; 71 patients recurred above-the-field, 2 patients occurred in the inguinal nodes, and 2 patients recurred above-the-field and in the inguinal nodes. In addition, 105 patients (58%) had a component of in-field failure; 59 patients recurred in-field only, 39 patients recurred in-field and above-the-field, 2 patients recurred in-field, above-the-field, and in the inguinal nodes, and 5 patients recurred in-field and in the inguinal nodes. The median survival after regional recurrence was 8 months (range, 0-194 months). CONCLUSIONS: Most regional recurrences after definitive RT for cervical cancer include a component of marginal failure, usually immediately superior to the radiation field. These recurrences suggest a deficiency in target volume. Recurrences also occur in-field, suggesting a deficiency in dose. Developments in pretreatment staging, field delineation, dose escalation, and posttreatment surveillance may help to improve outcome in these patients.
Authors: Karen Lim; Beth Erickson; Ina M Jürgenliemk-Schulz; David Gaffney; Carien L Creutzberg; Akila Viswanathan; Lorraine Portelance; Sushil Beriwal; Aaron Wolfson; Walter Bosch; Jennifer De Los Santos; Catheryn Yashar; Anuja Jhingran; Mahesh Varia; Issam El Naqa; Bronwyn King; Anthony Fyles Journal: Pract Radiat Oncol Date: 2015-07-02
Authors: Hiral P Fontanilla; Ann H Klopp; Mary E Lindberg; Anuja Jhingran; Patrick Kelly; Vinita Takiar; Revathy B Iyer; Charles F Levenback; Yongbin Zhang; Lei Dong; Patricia J Eifel Journal: Pract Radiat Oncol Date: 2012-03-30