Pathologic Characteristics, Type of Treatment and Follow Up of Patients with Uterine Cervical Carcinoma Referred to the Radiation Oncology Department, Cancer Institute, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran, Iran, 1995-2001

Background: Carcinoma of the uterine cervix is the sixth most common malignant neoplasm in womenworldwide. Early stage diagnosis increases the cure rate of disease. Radiotherapy with or without concurrentchemotherapy is one of the most effective treatment modalities. After radiotherapy, accurate and regular followupresults in early diagnosis and effective treatment of recurrence.
Methods: In this retrospective study, weevaluated 346 cases of cervical carcinoma who have been treated with radiotherapy in the Radiation OncologyDepartment of the Cancer Institute of Imam Khomeini hospital from 1995 to 2001.
Results: Age of the studygroup ranged from 26 to 78 (mean=50.5, SD=11). 30.4 percent of patients were early stage and 69.6 percent hadadvanced stage of disease. Some 92.2 percent of cases were squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomasmade up the 6.4 percent . Radical radiotherapy was most frequent radiotherapy setting and adjuvant radiotherapy(post-op) was the second. Most of the patients (43.7 percent) were followed for a short time, and a considerablenumber did not return for follow-up.
Conclusion: According to our results, patients do not pay enough attentionto disease follow-up. An acceptable training plan, with emphasis on regular follow-up, is recommended.