Late radiotherapeutic morbidity in patients with carcinoma of the uterine cervix: the application of the French-Italian glossary

Abstract Background and purpose . The aim of this study was to perform a retrospective analysis of the complications observed and the importance of delayed symptoms for radiotherapeutic morbidity in patients treated by radiotherapy alone for cervical cancer. Materials and methods . From 1979 to 1991, 145 patients with primary uterine cervical cancer were treated with external radiotherapy and intracavitary applications. During the follow-up, all signs, symptoms and therapy of late treatment complications were recorded. Complications were graded according to the French-Italian glossary. This glossary is used for recording morbidity after treatment of gynaecological cancer. Results . Overall, 119 late complications were recorded. They were most frequently located in the gastro-intestinal system (53%) with a median time to development of 9 months. Urinary complications were recorded in 20%. Very few complications were recorded in vagina/uterus (12%) and pelvic soft tissue (5%). The probability of surviving without tumour recurrence and/or late combined moderate to severe organ morbidity decreased with increasing FIGO stage. Conclusions . For reporting gynaecological morbidity, the French-Italian glossary is useful. Treatment optimization must take into account actuarial estimates of survival and morbidity.