Purpose: The authors undertook this study to evaluate the results of radiation therapy (RT) for vaginal recurrence in early stage endometrial carcinoma.
Materials and methods: Between 1964 and 1987, 34 patients with isolated vaginal recurrences of endometrial carcinoma were treated with RT. The records were reviewed for outcome and prognostic factors, such as location of tumor recurrence, time to recurrence, size of tumor at recurrence, tumor differentiation, and total radiation dose delivered at RT.
Results: With a median follow-up of 48 months, the 5-year actuarial survival and disease-free survival rates were 68% +/- 4 and 60% +/- 3, respectively. Results were statistically significant for some prognostic factors, including time to tumor recurrence and total radiation dose delivered at RT to the recurring tumor.
Conclusion: Long-term survival can be obtained for patients with an isolated vaginal recurrence of endometrial cancer treated with aggressive local-regional radiation therapy.