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.