Abstract
Eighteen patients with isolated vaginal recurrence of their previously treated endometrial carcinoma were treated with radiation therapy at North Carolina Baptist Hospital, Winston-Salem between 1971 and 1982. Most patients received external beam irradiation which were followed by boost treatments that were delivered with external beam (two patients) or intravaginal ovoid (11 patients). A local control rate of 44.4% with a 3-year minimum follow-up was obtained. Currently 33% are alive without evidence of disease 3 to 10 years following treatment. The most important prognostic indicator of outcome was size of vaginal recurrence. Of seven evaluable patients with tumors smaller than 2 cm there was one local failure. In contrast there were eight local failures in ten patients treated for tumors larger than 2 cm. Close follow-up and prompt diagnosis will enhance the chance of cure in endometrial cancer patients who do have recurrences.