External pelvic irradiation as a preoperative surgical adjuvant in treatment of carcinoma of the endometrium.

Abstract

1. Preoperative external pelvic irradiation is an effective approach for the treatment of carcinoma of the endometrium. Irradiation with cobalt 60 teletherapy has made this approach very satisfactory.2. Daily irradiation over a period of 5 to 6 weeks permits the administration of a dose of between 5,000 to 6,000 rads in the mid pelvic frontal plane without untoward effects, allowing for subsequent surgery in all cases.3. An interval of 6 to 8 weeks should be allowed before hysterectomy.4. In a series of 56 consecutive patients treated in this fashion, 28 showed no residual tumor in the uterine specimen and 47 (83 per cent) survived 5 years. In 3 additional patients, destruction of the primary tumor was verified at autopsy.5. There was no operative mortality, no important surgical complications and on case of vaginal recurrence.