Cancer of the uterine cervix: dosimetric guidelines for prevention of late rectal and rectosigmoid complications as a result of radiotherapeutic treatment

Journal Article · Mon Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0360-3016(82)90446-1· OSTI ID:5439923

Pourquier, H; Dubois, J B; Delard, R

This paper is the report of a dosimetric study of 41 rectal and rectosigmoid complications after radiotherapeutic treatment (1974-1978) of 287 cervical uterine tumors. Treatment consisted of external irradiation (25 MeV linear accelerator) and intracavitary irradiation (Fletcher-Suit applicator) at different doses depending on tumor stage. Dosimetric measurements were expressed as the maximum rectal dose and mean rectal dose on the anterior surface of the rectum, as proposed by the Groupe Europeen de Curietherapie. Rectal doses were also studied as a function of intracavitary irradiation and intracavitary + external irradiation (maximum rectal and mean cummulative doses for each). The results show a significant difference in the state of the patients with and without complications, based on the dose reaching the rectum. The maximum and the mean cumulative rectal doses serve as one of the primary indicators for predicting complications. These values should therefore be determined before placement of intracavitary sources or, at the latest, before the second intracavitary applications. We have shown that there is no fixed threshold dose, but that it varies from one region to another, depending on level of external irradiation. Our results argue in favor of adapting individual patient therapy based on simple precautions, which are adjustable to all treatment modalities. This method could lead to complete elimination of late rectal and rectosigmoid complications arising from radiotherapeutic treatment of cervical uterine cancer.

• Research Organization: Centre Regional de Lutte contre le Cancer (Centre Paul Lamarque), Montpellier, France
• OSTI ID: 5439923
• Journal Information: Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 8:11; ISSN IOBPD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACCELERATORS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
DELAYED RADIATION EFFECTS
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DOSES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENERGY RANGE
FEMALE GENITALS
GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
HARD X RADIATION
IMPLANTS
INTESTINES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LARGE INTESTINE
LINEAR ACCELERATORS
MEDICINE
MEV RANGE
MEV RANGE 10-100
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANS
PATIENTS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION SOURCE IMPLANTS
RADIATION SOURCES
RADIATIONS
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
RECTUM
SIDE EFFECTS
THERAPY
UTERUS
X RADIATION