Radiation therapy of pelvic recurrence after radical hysterectomy for cervical carcinoma

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of radiation therapy and potential prognostic factors in patients treated for pelvic recurrence of cervical carcinoma after radical hysterectomy.

Materials: The records of 50 patients treated between 1964 and 1994 for an isolated pelvic recurrence of cervical carcinoma a median of 10.5 months after initial radical hysterectomy were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were categorized according to the extent of disease on clinical examination as group 1, mucosal involvement only (5); group 2, paravaginal extension (11); group 3, central recurrence with pelvic wall extension (13); and group 4, recurrences limited to the pelvic sidewall (21). Seven patients with group 3 or 4 disease who had a poor performance status were treated with palliative intent using hypofractionated radiotherapy. The remaining 43 patients were treated with curative intent, 33 with radiotherapy only and 10 with a combination of cisplatin-based chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Survival rates were calculated from the date of initial recurrence. Median follow-up of surviving patients was 109 months.

Results: The overall 5-year survival rate was 33% for all 50 patients (median survival, 18 months), 39% for the 43 patients treated with curative intent, and 25% for patients with isolated sidewall recurrences treated with curative intent. The survival rate was 69% for patients with group 1 and 2 disease and 18% for those treated with curative intent for group 3 disease (P = 0.07). The survival rate was better for patients with recurrent squamous carcinomas (51%) than for those with adenocarcinomas (14%) (P = 0. 05). Three group 4 patients who survived more than 5 years were treated with external-beam radiation alone. Eight-one percent of patients who had a second recurrence had evidence of disease progression. Three patients experienced late treatment complications.

Conclusions: Patients who experience an isolated recurrence of cervical cancer after initial radical hysterectomy have an excellent prognosis if disease does not involve the pelvic wall. Occasional long-term survivors of recurrent disease involving the pelvic wall justify an aggressive treatment approach.