LOW-DOSE RATE VS HIGH-DOSE-RATE BRACHYTHERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF CARCINOMA OF THE UTERINE CERVIX - A CLINICAL-TRIAL

Purpose: This study is a prospective randomized clinical trial undertaken at our center to compare low dose rate versus high dose rate intracavitary brachytherapy for the treatment of carcinoma uterine cervix. Methods and Materials: From June 1986 to June 1989, 482 patients with previously untreated invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix were entered into the study. After an initial clinical examination and investigative work-up the patients were staged according to FIGO staging system. Depending upon the stage of the disease, the size of the local growth and the local cervical anatomy, the patients were divided into two main groups. In group I patients, the predominant treatment was by intracavitary therapy and in group II patients, the predominant therapy Was by external beam radiation. In both the groups at the time of intracavitary brachytherapy the patients were alternately randomized to receive either low dose rate or high dose rate brachytherapy. There were thus two hundred forty-six patients in the low dose rate group and two hundred thirty-six patients in the high dose rate group. The patients were analyzed for local control, 5 years survival and late radiation morbidity.