Background: The aim of this study was to report the clinical results of salvage high-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy (HDR-ISBT) for patients with cervical cancer with pelvic recurrence after hysterectomy.
Patients and methods: When there was no indication for total pelvic extenteration (TPE) and the tumor depth was more than 5 mm of invasion in the paracolpium, salvage HDR-ISBT was applied.
Results: A total of 26 patients were included in this study. The median number of fractions and dose per fraction of HDR-ISBT were 5 (range=3-20 fractions) and 6 Gy (range=2.5-6 Gy), respectively. Three-year local control, progression-free survival, and overall survival were 51.1%, 34.4% and 57.1%, respectively. Combination of external-beam radiation therapy, clinical target volume D90 greater than 65 Gy, and dose per fraction greater than 5 Gy were associated with favorable local control.
Conclusion: For patients with recurrent cervical cancer post hysterectomy who are not candidates for TPE, salvage HDR-ISBT is a possible curative treatment modality.
Keywords: Salvage interstitial brachytherapy; high-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy; post hysterectomy relapse; uterine cervical cancer.
Copyright© 2016 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved.