BRACHYTHERAPY IN THE PRESENCE OF PYURIA AFTER PELVIC IRRADIATION FOR CERVICAL-CANCER

Little is known about the effects of intracavitary brachytherapy (ICB) performed in the presence of pyuria resulting from external beam pelv ic irradiation for cervical cancer (CC). A retrospective study of one decade of ICE for CC showed that brachytherapy was performed in the pr esence of pyuria in 26 women. Twelve women without pyuria during ICB s erved as a control group. Antibiotic therapy was routinely administere d during intracavitary application. The crude survival rate at 5 years was 39% in patients with pyuria and 42% in women without pyuria; the corresponding local recurrence rates were 23% and 17%; the serious com plication rates were 12% and 0% respectively. Intracavitary brachyther apy in the presence of pyuria may have a limited adverse effect on the outcome of women with cancer of the cervix.