High-dose-rate intracavitary brachytherapy for recurrent cervical cancer in the vaginal stump after hysterectomy

This study aimed to evaluate the treatment outcomes of patients who received high-dose-rate intracavitary brachytherapy (HDR-BT) using Iridium-192 with or without external beam radiotherapy as definitive treatment for recurrent cervical cancer after hysterectomy. Thirty-six patients with local recurrence after hysterectomy received radiotherapy including HDR-BT from 2005 to 2013. Overall survival, local control rate, and progression-free survival were estimated retrospectively via the Kaplan-Meier method. Late adverse events were also scored using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (version 3.0). Median follow-up time was 38 (range, 7.4–101.3) months. The 3-year estimates of overall survival, local control rate, and progression-free survival were 100.0%, 82.8%, and 76.8%, respectively. Two patients (5.6%) had grade 2 lymphedema, but no other adverse events greater than grade 2 were reported. In conclusion, HDR-BT was an effective treatment modality for patients with cervical cancer recurrence in the vaginal stump.