Carcinoma of the vagina--experience at the Princess Margaret Hospital (1974-1989).

The charts of 153 patients with vaginal carcinoma or carcinoma in situ seen at Princess Margaret Hospital between 1974 and 1989 were analyzed with respect to treatment modality, radiation dose and technique, complications, and survival. One hundred and twenty-eight patients were treated with radiation therapy, of which 10 received radiation postoperatively and 26 concomitant chemotherapy. The overall 5-year actuarial cause-specific survival was 66%. The 5-year cause-specific survivals by stage were Stage 0 (C-I-S) 100%, Stages I/II 77%, and Stages III/IV 56%. Late complications from treatment were infrequent and in only 12 patients were such complications classified as severe. Univariate analysis indicated that size and stage of tumor, histological grade, patient age, and radiation dose > 7000 cGy were significant factors in predicting survival, although in a multivariate analysis only size and stage retained significance. Fifty-one patients had a prior gynecological malignancy arising 1-37 years previously, of which 34 had cervical cancers. Radiotherapy is an effective treatment for all stages of carcinoma of the vagina and doses of at least 7000 cGy are recommended to maximize tumor control.