HIGH-DOSE-RATE VAGINAL BRACHYTHERAPY IN EARLY-STAGE ENDOMETRIAL CARCINOMA - PRELIMINARY-ANALYSIS

From 1987 to 1993, 69 women diagnosed with FIGO stages I and II carcin oma of the endometrium underwent postoperative adjuvant irradiation (R T) under protocol with high dose rate (HDR) afterloading vaginal apex brachytherapy. All patients initially underwent total abdominal hyster ectomy and bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy. Forty-four women received HDR brachytherapy alone and 25 received external beam RT as well as HD R brachytherapy. The median follow-up was 45 months. The 5-year diseas e-free survival was 92% and the overall survival rate was 79%. Multiva riate Cox regression analysis revealed that grade, age, and stage were significant predictors of survival. The overall acute and late side e ffects were minimal. It appears that HDR vaginal brachytherapy is comp arable to the traditional low dose rate brachytherapy in prevention of vaginal recurrence in endometrial carcinoma and should be considered an effective treatment option.