[The development of gynaecological radiotherapy at the 1st department of obstetrics and gynaecology University of Vienna (a review of the past 25 years) (author's transl)].

The radiotherapy unit of the Ist Department of Gynaecology, University of Vienna, was founded 25 years ago and its direction was entrusted to me. The initial period was extremely strenuous and difficult, especially in view of the fact that in our country the radiotherapeutic specialist in general - and the specialist in gynaecological radiotherapy in particular - is confronted with many excellent, absolutely surgically-oriented colleagues. Hence, it was necessary to prove on the basis of our resultes over the years, that this form of therapy in gynaecology, all initial conditions being equal, is just as effective as surgery, or even the treatment of choice in certain forms of malignancy. As a measure of the success of radiotherapeutic managment in this field, it would not occur to any experienced gynaecologist today to treat, for instance, a case of vaginal carcinoma surgically or to be satisfied with mere tumorexcision in a case of carcinoma of the vulva. An attempt has been made in this paper to outline the different methods used in the treatment of various gynaecological tumours and to show that well-planned, individually-tailored, fractionated radium therapy, combined with conventional X-ray therapy brings therapeutic results, which compare favourably with the best in the world literature. A further improvement in the cure rate - at least in progressed cases - may be anticipated following the introduction of supervolt therapy. This report only deals with the contribution made in the course of treatment of more than 8500 cases of the radiotherapy unit of the Ist Department of Gynaecology, University of Vienna towards advancement of gynaecological radiotherapy.