Comparison of vaginal gauze packing technique with or without balloon in high-dose-rate brachytherapy of uterine cervical cancer: A crossover randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: To compare the rectal and bladder doses using two different vaginal packing techniques among uterine cervical cancer patients receiving high-dose-rate (HDR) intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT).

Material And Methods: Forty-five patients with cervical cancer were randomized to receive two sessions of ICBT using tandem and ring applicator (Varian), following completion of pelvic external beam radiotherapy treatment. The procedure was performed with vaginal balloon plus gauze packing or vaginal gauze packing alone, each of which was used in one of two sessions.