J Korean Soc Ther Radiol.  1983 Mar;1(1):95-102.

The treatment of Uterine Cervical Cancer Using High Dose Rate Co-60 Sources

• Kim GE
• Suh CO
• Lee DH
• Park CY

Abstract

The radical treatment of uterine cervical cancer by interacavitary radium or cesium, in combination with teletherapy are well known. Although the result of such treatment should not give rise to complacency, problem of radiation exposure to medical staff had not been resolved. Fortunately, many attempts have been made to reduce this hazard, most of which take the form of afterloading applicators with a suitably shielded radioisotope. In order to avoid hazardous radiation exposure to staffs concerned with brachytherapy, RALS using high intensity source of Co-60, have been employed at Yonsei Cancer Center since May, 1979. It allows rectal and bladder doses to be kept low, while maintaining a satifactory usual dose distribution of the other type of applicators, and the short treatment time allow four or five patients to be treated per hour. It also removes much patient's discomfort and the difficulties of nursing these patients. Since the first introduction in Korea, over seven hundred cases with various stage of uterine cervical cancer have been treated on a radical basis at this center last 4 years. These authors have strongly attracted attention to the results in terms of local control rate, survival s and morbidity compared with those of conventional low dose rate radiotherapy. Retrospective interim analysis of data was preliminarily accomplished through the labored follow-p study of 340 cases treated during initial 2 years and the radiobiologic standpoint of high dose rate intracavitary irradiation will be discussed.

MeSH Terms

Brachytherapy
Cesium
Humans
Korea
Medical Staff
Nursing
Radiotherapy
Radium
Retrospective Studies
Survival Rate
Urinary Bladder
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*
Cesium
Radium