Objective: The aim of this study was to assess whether hydronephrosis is a prognostic factor for patients of FIGO stage III B cervical cancer.
Material and methods: A retrospective review of 145 stage III B cervical cancer patients treated with radiotherapy between 1989-1993 at Maria Skłodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center in Warsaw was performed. Radiotherapy consisted of External Beam Irradiation (EBI) and Brachytherapy (BT) or EBI alone.
Results: Multivariate analysis revealed that hydronephrosis and Brachytherapy following EBI as the second part of the treatment were statistically significant factors in survival of FIGO stage III B cervical cancer patients. The five-year survival rate was 36% for patients without hydronephrosis treated with EBI and BT, compared to the group with hydronephrosis treated with EBI alone (no regression or too slow regression of the tumor to use BT), in which the survival rate was only 17 months.
Conclusion: FIGO III b cervical cancer patients with hydronephrosis are treated only with palliative intent.