Treatment of cancer of the cervix with a high-dose-rate afterloading machine (the Cathetron)

Abstract Two hundred and ninety-one patients with invasive carcinoma of the cervix uteri were treated by a combination of external beam therapy (telecobalt or 4 Mv Linear accelerator) and a high dose-rate afterloading intracavitary apparatus (the Cathetron). All patients have been followed for a minimum of 312 years. The five year survival rates are: all patients 55 %; Stage I, 81 % ; Stage IIA, 74 % ; Stage IIB, 40 %; Stage III, 27 %. Death was directly attributed to treatment in five patients. We found a serious complication rate of 3% for all patients treated, the major problem being radiation ileitis. It is concluded that high dose-rate treatment offers comparable results to conventional radium therapy; the choice between high and lose dose-rate afterloading systems depends on the number of patients needing treatment and associated economic factors rather than any intrinsic radiobiological advantage of either system.