URETERAL STRICTURE AS A LATE COMPLICATION OF RADIOTHERAPY FOR STAGE IB CARCINOMA OF THE UTERINE CERVIX

Background. Ureteral stricture is a rare late complication of curative radiotherapy for carcinoma of the cervix. A retrospective study was p erformed to determine the incidence and latency of radiation-induced u reteral stricture, to investigate possible contributing factors, and t o compare the time course and presenting characteristics of ureteral c ompromise caused by late radiation injury or tumor recurrence. Methods . The records of 1784 patients with FIGO stage IB carcinoma of the cer vix treated with radiotherapy at The University of Texas M. D. Anderso n Cancer Center between 1960 and 1989 were reviewed. The characteristi cs of patients who developed ureteral stricture as a first manifestati on of recurrent disease or without evidence of pelvic recurrence were compared. The risk of ureteral compromise was calculated actuarially. Results. There were 29 patients with severe radiation-induced ureteral stricture. The overall incidences of severe ureteral stenosis were 1. 0, 1.2, 2.2, and 2.5% at 5, 10, 15, and 20 years, respectively, reflec ting a continuous actuarial risk increase of approximately 0.15% per y ear. Four patients died of complications from bilateral ureteral stric ture. Patients who were treated with centrally blocked external fields or who received more than two transvaginal radiation treatments were at increased risk for developing ureteral stenosis. The risk was simil ar for patients treated with radiation alone or followed by extrafasci al hysterectomy. Conclusions. During the first 5 years after treatment , tumor recurrence is the most common cause of ureteral stricture in p atients treated with radiotherapy for carcinoma of the cervix. However , radiation injury to the ureter, although rare, may not become appare nt for many years, necessitating continued vigilance throughout the li ves of these patients.