Results of high dose rate brachytherapy, anterior pelvic exenteration and external beam radiotherapy for carcinoma of the female urethra.

PURPOSE

We evaluated a multimodality approach to locally advanced urethral carcinoma in women.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between August 1996 and July 1999, 6 women were treated for locally advanced carcinoma of the urethra with anterior pelvic exenteration followed by high dose 192iridium intraoperative radiation therapy. Four of the 6 patients were also treated with neoadjuvant or concomitant platinum based chemotherapy.

RESULTS

Two patients had no evidence of disease, 3 had distant metastasis and 2 had local recurrence at a mean followup of 21 months (range 12 to 47). Radiation was relatively well tolerated with no major adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

High dose intraoperative brachytherapy followed by external beam radiation is relatively well tolerated. Local control seems to have improved. We must evaluate a larger cohort of patients to determine this impact of the combined modality on local control and patient survival.