Treatment of locally advanced cancer of the cervix with transperineal interstitial irradiation. Report on 106 cases.

The survival of patients with locally advanced cancer of the cervix (stage IIB, IIIB, and IVA) treated with conventional intracavitary radium remains unsatisfactory. Over 50% of these patients are local failures and die with uncontrolled tumor in the pelvis. In 1978, we began performing transperineal interstitial implants to the parametria in patients with advanced disease. One hundred six evaluable patients (34 IIB, 67 IIIB, and five IVA) received one (99) or two interstitial implants (7) following 40-50 Gy of external supervoltage external irradiation. In addition, seven patients underwent exploratory staging laparotomies concurrently with the first implant procedure. Mean follow-up is 23 months and range is 12-60 months. Control of the pelvic tumor has been documented in 85%, 75%, and 40% of stage IIB, IIIB and IVA patients, respectively. Seven patients developed distant metastases and three died of intercurrent disease with no evidence of pelvic relapse. Nineteen patients (18%) developed radiation-related complications: proctitis or cystitis (six), rectal stenosis (six), ulceration and necrosis of the vaginal wall (one), and recto- or vesicovaginal fistula (six). It is noteworthy that 7/11 patients (64%) who had radioactive sources placed on the surface of the vaginal obturator as a substitute for an intrauterine tandem developed severe complications. We conclude that transperineal interstitial irradiation is both safe and an effective modality in the treatment of advanced cancer of the cervix.