Comparative Analysis of Treatment Outcomes and Toxicity in Cervical Cancer Patients: Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy vs. Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy

Introduction:The global burden of cancer remains substantial, with millions of new cases and deaths annually.Cervical cancer ranks prominently among these statistics.In India alone, cervical cancer accounts for a significant number of cases and is a considerable public health concern.The established therapeutic approach for locally advanced cervical cancer involves a combination of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) with concurrent chemotherapy followed by brachytherapy.The widely adopted Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy (3DCRT) for EBRT, while effective, has been associated with noteworthy side effects when used concomitantly with chemotherapy. Methods: This study focuses on a cohort of cervical cancer patients treated at the Department of Radiation, State Cancer Institute, Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Science, Patna, between January 2022 and July 2022.The research examines two distinct treatment techniques: 3DCRT (FIF technique) utilized in 50 cases, and Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) employed in another 50 cases.All patients received treatment with curative intent, combining EBRT with chemotherapy, and were selected based on Karnofsky scores above 70.A comprehensive review of clinical records was conducted. Results:The patient cohort primarily consisted of individuals over 50 years of age, predominantly diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma.The staging distribution, according to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) classification, indicated a prevalence of stage IIIA and IIIB cases.Hemoglobin levels ranged from 7.5 to 9.5 g%, and a subset of patients (17%) necessitated blood transfusions during treatment. Conclusion:Comparative analysis between 3DCRT and IMRT techniques revealed that Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy offers the advantage of precise dose distribution to tumor sites while minimizing exposure to critical organs at risk (OAR), such as the bladder, rectum, bowel, and bones.This approach holds promise in reducing the incidence of side effects associated with traditional treatment methods.