Radiotherapy of Carcinoma of the Vulva

During the years 1957-1966 nineteen patients with advanced carcinoma of the vulva were selected for external radiotherapy using cobalt-60 irradiation. All patients belonged to clinical stage T4, according to UICC proposed TNM-classification of carcinoma of the vulva in 1967. No other treatment could be given in these advanced cases. Biopsies were taken and thin-needle aspiration biopsies were performed from suspicious inguinal nodes. The local tumour dose was in the range 5 200 rad in 37 days to 6 900 rad in 45 days. The inguinal regions were irradiated in 11 of the 19 patients. Four of the 19 patients have a symptom-free survival time of more than 5 years. Six patients had cytologically verified lymph node metastases in one or both groins; two of these patients have no signs of tumour growth in the inguinal regions after over 6 years. We recommend the use of super-voltage treatment for patients with advanced tumours in the vulvar region.