Endometrial cancer: a comparative analysis of the therapeutic results and causes of failure after treatment by radiation combined with surgery or radiation therapy alone

The present study involved 215 endometrial carcinoma patients. Ninety-nine were treated by combined irradiation and surgery (preoperative external irradiation and intracavitary insertion followed by total hysterectomy and lymphadenectomy). Radiotherapy alone was used with 116 patients i.e. whole pelvis external irradiation and Heyman radium packing (40 patients) or afterloading techniques with Fletcher-Suit-Delclos applicators and cesium (76-patients). The 5-year NED survival rate was 78.7% in the combined therapy group and 44% in the exclusive radiotherapy group. The locoregional recurrence rates were 10% in the combined group and 28% in the exclusive radiotherapy group. These results are discussed in relation to data in the literature and to biases introduced due to patient selection in this nonrandomized study. Five-year survival rates, locoregional recurrence rates and sites of failures are analyzed according to the different treatments. Modifications of the external irradiation and intracavitary techniques allowed us to obtain better results and fewer complications.