COMPLICATIONS AFTER ADJUVANT RADIATION IN PATIENTS WITH STAGE I ENDOMETRIAL CANCER
We studied frequency and character of radiation complications in women with stage I endometrial cancer undergoing adjuvant radiation after hysterectomy and bilateral salpino-oophorectomy (53) or hysterectomy and bilateral salpino-oophorectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy (13). Equal groups of patients (n = 32) received external beam radiation at a total tumor dose 40 to 44 Gy or external beam radiation with vaginal brachytherapy at 50 to 55 Gy. RTOG/EORTC (1995) system was used to evaluate radiation complications. In majority of patients (47/71.2%) the treatment was not interrupted. Grade II beam reactions were reported in 11 (16.6%) and grade III events were observed in 4 (6.1%) cases. Radiotherapy was discontinued due to complications in 4 (6.1%) women. Radiation reactions tended to develop more frequently in cases undergoing hysterectomy and bilateral salpino-oophorectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy and in those receiving external beam radiotherapy. Late grade I or II complications were reported in 7.7% of patients. They depended on character of concomitant disease (colitis, cystitis) and developed at an average of 6 months earlier than in cases free from changes in critical organs.