Analysis of results of radiation therapy for stage IB carcinoma of the cervix.

From April of 1969 through December of 1980, 197 patients with Stage IB, invasive, epidermoid carcinoma of the cervix received radical radiation therapy. The treatment consisted of external beam and intracavitary therapy designed to deliver 7000 to 8000 rad to Point A and 5000 to 5500 rad to the pelvic lymph nodes. The 2-, 5-, and 10-year, disease-free survival rates were 87%, 83%, and 81%, respectively. Thirty-six patients developed recurrent and/or metastatic disease. The sites that failed to remain disease-free were: locoregional in five patients (3%), locoregional with distant metastases in 15 patients (8%), and distant metastases only in 14 patients (7%). In addition, there were two patients (1%) who are considered to have died of disease but the site or sites of recurrence could not be determined. Thirty-nine patients developed complications. The complications were mild and self-limiting--Grade I--in 24 patients (12%) and of moderate severity--Grade II--in eight patients (4%). Seven patients (4%) developed severe--Grade III--complications. A correlation was found between the dose to Point A, the bladder, and the rectum and the complications. The mean dose to Point A for patients without and with complications were 7453 rad (SE +/- 91) and 7737 (SE +/- 124), respectively, with a P value of .05. The mean dose to the bladder for patients without and with urinary complications was 5590 rad (SE +/- 103) and 6335 rad (SE +/- 411), respectively, with a P value of 0.14. The mean dose to the rectum for patients without and with intestinal complications was 5837 rad (SE +/- 103) and 6810 rad (SE +/- 236), respectively, with a P value of 0.001. No correlation was found between the dose to Point A and locoregional recurrences.