Topical benzydamine in the treatment of vaginal radiomucositis

Abstract

Radiotherapy for invasive cervical cancer involves a high risk of local complications. Classically, the critical structures are the rectum, the bladder and the bony ring of the pelvis. However, endocavitary curietherapy is an important component in the radiological treatment since it delivers the highest dose to the vaginal mucosa. The anti-inflammatory efficacy of benzydamine in gynaecology, already well documented, was investigated in our controlled clinical study (benzydamine vs. placebo) involving 32 consecutive unselected patients treated by endocavitary curietherapy with 137caesium sources, alone, after radical surgery, or in association with megavoltage external irradiation. In the group with topical benzydamine, we have observed a statistically significant improvement of subjective symptomatology and colposcopic view. On the contrary in the placebo group a worsening of all the clinical parameters considered became evident.