Interstitial brachytherapy for vaginal recurrences of endometrial carcinoma.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of interstitial brachytherapy in the management of vaginal recurrences of endometrial carcinoma.

Methods: Thirty patients received interstitial irradiation, with or without external beam radiotherapy. They were followed for a minimum of 5 years or until death.

Results: The median age was 66 years at initial diagnosis of endometrial cancer. FIGO stages included Stage I (n = 18), Stage II (n = 7), and Stage III (n = 5). All patients were treated originally by total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, with or without lymphadenectomy, and 13 (43%) also received postoperative adjuvant whole pelvis radiotherapy as part of their primary treatment. Vaginal recurrences were diagnosed at a mean interval of 29 months after hysterectomy (range, 3-119 months). No patient had clinical evidence of pelvic sidewall extension or of distant metastatic disease. All patients were treated with interstitial brachytherapy; each implant delivered a mean maximal tumor dose of 25.5 Gy. Eighteen patients (60%) also received external beam radiotherapy (mean dose, 48 Gy) as part of their treatment for vaginal recurrence. Twenty-eight patients (93%) experienced a complete clinical response. Ten patients relapsed in the vagina (n = 5) or at distant sites (n = 5). Eleven patients are dead of disease. From the time of vaginal recurrence, the median overall survival was 60 months and the cause of death adjusted 5-year survival rate was 65%. Major morbidity included radiation proctitis (n = 2), fistula (n = 2), and radiation stricture (n = 1).

Conclusion: Interstitial irradiation resulted in favorable local control as well as a 5-year survival rate and morbidity comparable to that reported previously for conventional brachytherapy.