Research Article

USE OF LOW-DOSE RATE BRACHYTHERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF GYNAECOLOGY MALIGNANCIES IN A LOW-RESOURCE SETTING: A TENYEAR REVIEW

Charles Okwonna1*, Shehu Salihu Umar2, Ali Abba Tijjani3, Oiza Tessy Ahmadu4, Aisha Mustapha5, Aisha Jamila Ahmad6, Tajudeen A. Olasinde7
1 St Lukes Cancer Centre, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford, Surrey
2 Department of Radiology, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria
3 Department of Radiology, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria; Department of Clinical Oncology, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria
4 Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, FCT, Nigeria
5 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria
6 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching, Hospital, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria
7 Department of Radiation and Clinical Oncology, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
* Corresponding author: charles.okwonna@npmcn.edu.ng
Published: Jan, 2025
DOI: 10.67579/njo.2025.5wu5kovu
Pages: 90-109
Views: 205
Downloads: 140

Abstract

Introduction: Gynaecological cancers are among the most common cancers worldwide and vary in incidence geographically. In Nigeria, cervical cancer is the most common gynaecological cancer and the second most common cause of cancer-related mortality. Cervical cancer constitutes a huge percentage of the cases treated with radiotherapy in developing nations. This study aims to assess the impact of low dose rate intracavitary brachytherapy (BT) on treatment outcome of gynaecological cancers in Zaria.

Methodology: This was a retrospective descriptive study that involved all patients with gynaecological cancers that were treated with brachytherapy at the Radiotherapy and Oncology Department, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria from January 2006 to December 2015.

Result: A total of 351 patients with gynaecological cancers were treated between January 2006 and December 2015 and were entered into this study. Mean age of the patients was 52 years. Cancers treated with brachytherapy during this period were Cervical (97.4%), Endometrial (1.7%) and Vaginal (0.9%). Most (46.7%) of the patients had stage IIIB cervical cancer. Majority (77%) of the patients had no evidence of disease at 2 years post treatment. Factors associated with disease relapse were pretreatment tumors >4cm in diameter, interval between External Beam Radiotherapy (EBRT) and brachytherapy >12 weeks, cumulative radiation dose

Keywords

Gynaecological Malignancy Intracavitary Brachytherapy

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How to Cite

Okwonna, C., Umar, S. S., Tijjani, A. A., Ahmadu, O. T., Mustapha, A., Ahmad, A. J., & Olasinde, T. A. (2025). USE OF LOW-DOSE RATE BRACHYTHERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF GYNAECOLOGY MALIGNANCIES IN A LOW-RESOURCE SETTING: A TENYEAR REVIEW. Nigerian Journal of Oncology, 1(1), 90-109. https://doi.org/10.67579/njo.2025.5wu5kovu

C. Okwonna, S. S. Umar, A. A. Tijjani, O. T. Ahmadu, A. Mustapha, A. J. Ahmad, and T. A. Olasinde, "USE OF LOW-DOSE RATE BRACHYTHERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF GYNAECOLOGY MALIGNANCIES IN A LOW-RESOURCE SETTING: A TENYEAR REVIEW," Nigerian Journal of Oncology, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 90-109, January 2025. doi: 10.67579/njo.2025.5wu5kovu

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