• Diptimay Das, Snehamay Chaudhuri, Asit Ranjan Deb, Ranen Kanti Aich, Subir Gangopadhyay, and Amitava Ray.
• Department of Radiotherapy, NRS Medical College, Kolkata, India.
• Asian Pac. J. Cancer Prev. 2011 Jan 1; 12 (3): 807-10.

AimsThis study focused on pelvic recurrence rate and late complications following treatment with high dose rate brachytherapy with a three fractionation scheme.Setting And DesignThis retrospective observational study was conducted from 1st November 2003 to 31st March 2005 at a tertiary care centre.Methods And MaterialsWomen were treated with external beam radiotherapy and three fractions of high dose rate brachytherapy, divided into two broad groups IIB+ IIIA and IIIB+IVA. Duration of follow-up was 2 years and main outcome measures were recurrence and rectal and urinary bladder complications. Results were assessed with the Chi square test and P-values using an alpha level of 0.05 for Type I error.ResultsOf the total of 286 women, 72 (25.4%) developed central-regional recurrence. Overall two year pelvic control rate was 74.6%, with values of 78.1% and 72.8% for stages IIB+ IIIA, IIIB+IVA, respectively. Five women developed distant metastasis and 21.5% suffered low grade rectal complications. After two years the prevalence of bladder complications was only 5.4%.ConclusionUsing a three fraction scheme, high dose rate brachytherapy is safe and effective in the management of cervix cancer.

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