Bladder and rectal complications following radiotherapy for cervix cancer
One-hundred and thirty-two patients with cervix carcinoma who were treated with whole pelvis irradiation and two intracavitary applications had bladder and rectal dosimetry during brachytherapy with contrast agents placed into the bladder and rectum prior to orthogonal simulator radiographs. Doses were computer calculated at points A and B, F (bladder), R1 (rectum), and R2 (rectosigmoid). Late occurring bladder and rectal complications were graded on a severity scale of 1 to 3, and 14% had grade 2 or 3 injuries (9% developed fistulas). Statistical evaluation of the data showed that severe bladder and rectal injuries occur more commonly in stage IIIA and IIIB disease and in those receiving high external beam doses (5000 rad +). Analysis of variance tests revealed a significant correlation of brachytherapy dose to points R1 and R2 with severe rectal injuries but there was not a correlation of dose to F with bladder injuries. Nor was there correlation of injuries with dose to point A or the milligram-hour dose. We conclude that our technique for rectal dosimetry is adequate but that an improved technique of bladder dosimetry is needed. Also, when combining whole pelvis irradiation with two intracavitary applications (4000 rad to point A), the whole pelvis dose should probably not exceed 4000-4500 rad.
- Research Organization:
- Hershey Medical Center of the Pennsylvania State Univ. (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5297438
- Journal Information:
- Gynecol. Oncol.; (United States), Vol. 29:1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
BLADDER
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION DOSES
NEOPLASMS
RADIOTHERAPY
SIDE EFFECTS
RECTUM
UTERUS
PATIENTS
RADIATION INJURIES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BODY
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISEASES
DOSES
FEMALE GENITALS
GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
INJURIES
INTESTINES
LARGE INTESTINE
MEDICINE
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOLOGY
THERAPY
URINARY TRACT
560151* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Man