[Urologic complications following curative radiotherapy of gynecologic cancers]

Abstract

Seventy-nine patients with urological complications after radiotherapy of their gynecological carcinomas are presented. Twenty-eight patients underwent operation before irradiation. The time between radiotherapy and occurrence of urological complications varied from 0.5 to 27 years (mean 5.3 years). One third of the patients showed a combination of at least two side effects of radiotherapy. There were good results of infiltration therapy with orgotein in patients with radiation cystitis. Because of the unsatisfactory result from primary operation of fistulas, suprapubic urinary diversion is preferred. Gynecologic operation prior to radiotherapy did not influence the results of urological treatment. Seven patients (8.8%) died from urological complications or from complications after urologic treatment. 6 patients (7.6%) showed cancer of the radiated region (3 bladder cancers, 3 colon cancers) within 6 to 20 years after radiotherapy.