Radiation treatment of primary carcinoma of the female urethra.

Because of the rarity of the primary carcinoma of the female urethra, there has been limited experience of individual institutions in management of this disease. Treatment by radiation alone required radium implant skill in early cases and individualized consideration for integrating external and internal irradiation in more advanced cases. From 1961 to 1975 a total of 16 women with histologically verified primary urethral carcinoma were given radiation treatment at the University of Maryland Hospital. Six of 16 patients were primarily treated for palliation only and 10 were receiving curative radiation treatment. The results show an excellent local control in anterior urethral disease (3/3), entire urethral disease (2/3) and urethral disease with involvement of vulva and/or vagina (3/3). Bladder neck, parametrial, inguinal lymph node, or paraortic involvement represents a poor prognosis and failure is close to 100%. Eight of 10 patients who were treated with aggressive radium alone or combination of external irradiation and interstitial therapy show complete control of disease (80%). Total dosage between 5500 to 6500 rad appears to be adequate to control the disease. Palliative treatment by irradiation alone can only offer a short term symptom-free result, and should be considered as an occasional alternative modality of choice.