Complications of pelvic radiation therapy for gynecologic malignancies in elderly women

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency and severity of complications following pelvic irradiation in elderly women with gynecologic malignancies. A retrospective analysis was conducted of the 60 women over 65 years of age treated with pelvic radiation therapy for cervical (26), endometrial (31) or proximal vaginal (3) cancer at the UCLA Medical Center between 1978 and 1991. Acute grade 3 to 4 gastrointestinal (GI) complications, using Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) criteria occured in three of 60 patients (5%). Chronic complications occured in 28 of 49 patients (57%) followed for longer than 3 months after radiation therapy. The 3-year actuarial rate of chronic GI and/or genitourinary (GU) complications was 63% for any grade and 24% for grades 2,3 or 4. Twelve of the 14 grade 2–4 chronic complications were GI. The 3-year actuarial chronic complication rate was 45% for GI compared to 17% for GU (P = 0.01). The median time to occurrence for GI and GU chronic complications was 8 and 19 months, respectively. In multivariate analysis, two or more pre-existing medical problems (P = 0.03) and dose of external beam radiation therapy 45 Gy (P = 0.07) were associated with the development of a chronic complication. We conclude that moderate to severe intestinal complications are common after pelvic irradiation of elderly women, particularly those with two or more pre-existing medical problems. Pelvic radiation therapy should be used judiciously in elderly women.