[Radiation therapy of cervix cancer with special reference to radiation effects upon the intestine (author's transl)].

The evaluation of the therapeutical preference of succession in the treatment of the uterine cervix, the radiation therapy today presents a special importance. This is established upon two facts; that is, the age-distribution and the incidence of the inoperability of the cases (one patient in every three cases of the cervical cancer is over 60 years of age; nearly 60% of the cases are in an inoperable stage). Although in our department only partially or completely inoperable cases went through a radiation therapy, 757 ( = 47,7% out of 1586 cases) achieved to survive for more than five years. At a discussion concerning the intestinal complications which occur due to irradiation, it has been proved, that 18,6% show reversible reactions. The permanent reactions like recto-vaginal-fistula etc. were only seen in 2,4%. It is interesting to note, that the patients subjected to intestinal complications were seen by advanced cases (stage III: 65,1%) and 69% of them were over 60 years of age. Irradiation consequences are by younger patients and by cases with a possible local operability rather rare. At the end, physiopathology and the treatment of the intestinal post-irradiation effects are discussed.