Klin Onkol 1996; 9(5): 169-170.
Abstract: Patients with advanced gynecological tumors or patients in poor condition are treated in the Institute For Radiation Oncology in Prague since 1990. Therapy involves large single fractions of radiotherapy with a palliative goal. The aim of our study is to evaluate the efficacy of this approach.
Up to now, weave applied single large fractions in 44 gynecological patients. The diagnosis was in 20 cases ca corporis uteri, in 21 cases ca cervicis and in 3 cases ca vaginae. Irradiation was performed with a 6 MeV accelerator or Cobalt, the doses were 8-10 Gy. Irradiation was repeated, if necessary, with a rest period of at least one month. 1 fraction was applited in 22 cases, 2 fractions in 19 cases, 3 and 4 fractions in one case. The average survival in January 1996 was 14.22 months for patients with corporal carcinoma (1-39), 4 months for patients with cervical carcinoma (1-23). The indication for irradiation was gynecological bleeding in 37 cases, pain in 3 cases, hydronephrosis in 1 case, fluor in 1 case and 2 patients were without symptomatology. Control of bleeding was achieved in 30 patients.
Single large fractions of radiation are an effective method of palliative treatment for incurable gynecological malignancies. Acute side effects are minimal. Even in patients surviving more than 2 years we have not observed severe late effects. Patients with ca corporis uteri had significantly longer survival than patients with cervical carcinoma. The reason seems to be that the patients with corporal carcinoma presented less advanced tumor and the indication for palliative irradiation was age; patients with cervical carcinoma presented more advanced stages of tumor.
