The increasing incidence of obesity in Poland and its relation to endometrioid endometrial cancer (EEC) is resulting in the increasing necessity of treating obese women. Treatment of an overweight patient with EEC may impede not only the surgical procedures but also radiotherapy, especially external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). The problems arise both during treatment planning and when delivering each fraction due to the difficulty of positioning such a patient – it implies the danger of underdosing targets and overdosing organs at risk. Willingness to use dynamic techniques in radiation oncology has increased for patients with EEC, even those who are obese. During EBRT careful daily verification is necessary for both safety and treatment accuracy. The most accurate method of verification is cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) with soft tissue assessment, although it is time consuming and often requires a radiation oncologist. In order to improve the quality of such treatment, the authors present the practical aspects of planning and treatment itself by means of dynamic techniques in EBRT. The authors indicate the advantages and disadvantages of different types of on-board imaging (OBI) verification images. Considering the scanty amount of literature in this field, it is necessary to conduct further research in order to highlight proper planning and treatment of obese endometrial cancer patients. The review of the literature shows that all centres that wish to use EBRT for gynaecological tumours should develop their own protocols on qualification, planning the treatment and methods of verifying the patients’ positioning.
Objectives: Our study evaluates the impact of adjuvant treatment with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) combined with vaginal high dose rate brachytherapy (HDR BT) on health related quality of life (HRQL) in patients with early stage endometrioid endometrial carcinoma.
Material and methods:From March 2019 to February 2021, 60 patients were enrolled with early stage endometrioid endometrial carcinoma, and qualified to adjuvant treatment after hysterectomy. HRQL was assessed using the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire, with the endometrial cancer-specific HRQL module EORTC QLQ-EN24. Questionnaires were completed in four timepoints during adjuvant radiotherapy.Results: A significant decrease in mean global health status / quality of life (p < 0.001) and role functioning (p = 0.028) was noted, as assessed in EORTC QLQ-C30 scale. Among the EORTC QLQ-C30 symptoms scales, significant differences were noted in the fatigue scale (p = 0.003), pain scale (p = 0.001), constipation scale (p < 0.001) and diarrhea scale (p < 0.001) over time. The EORTC QRQ-EN24 analysis showed significant deterioration in the urological symptoms scale (p < 0.001), gastrointestinal symptoms scale (p < 0.001) and in the mean pain in back and pelvis scale (p = 0.003).
Conclusions:Adjuvant radiotherapy in patients with early-stage endometrioid endometrial cancer after hysterectomy is associated with worse quality of life, especially due to the toxicity of the treatment in relation to the gastrointestinal tract and urinary system.
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