Background: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women. Although cervical cancer screening is available in India, there is lack of awareness and access to screening services. Consequently, most cancers are diagnosed in advanced stagesoften with obstructive uropathy.
Patients and methods: This was a retrospective study of stage III B (as per pre-2018 FIGO staging) cervical cancer patients who received radiotherapy at our center between 2012 and 2019. Patients with or without obstructive uropathy, age group between 18 and 85 years, were included. Definitiveradiotherapy (RT) was delivered with 3D CRT to a dose of 50 Gy in 25 fractions over 5weeks given to whole pelvis and boost of 54 Gy was given to para-aortic or retroperitoneal lymph nodes when enlarged. All patients received intracavitary brachytherapy.
Results: 3-year overall survival rates for patients who received only RT was 24% versus 71% for those who received chemoradiotherapy (p = 0.0001). 5-year survival for patients who received RT alone was 12% versus 63% for those who received chemoradiotherapy (p = 0.0001). 3-year PFS was 77% versus 83% and those with and without obstructive uropathy respectively. (p = 0.0001). Overall, 37(56%) patients were alive without any evidence of recurrence.
Conclusion: Early recognition and appropriate intervention for obstructive uropathy can potentially limit the detriment to outcomes in these patients and result is good long-term cure rates in these patients.
Keywords: Locally advanced Carcinoma cervix; Obstructive uropathy; Survival outcomes.
Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.