AIMS: Describe the impact of surgery, radiotherapy and chemoradiation in the pelvic floor functions in cervical cancer patients.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study with women submitted to radical hysterectomy (RH) (n = 20), exclusive radiotherapy (RT) (n = 20) or chemoradiation (CT/RT) (n = 20) for invasive cervical cancer. Urinary, intestinal and sexual function, as well as vaginal length and pelvic floor muscle contraction were evaluated. Comparisons between groups were performed by Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-square tests (p < 0.05).
RESULTS: The groups were similar in stress urinary incontinence incidence (p = 0.56), urinary urgency (p = 0.44), urge incontinence (p = 0.54), nocturia (p = 0.53), incomplete bowel emptying (p = 0.76), bowel urgency (p = 0.12) and soilage (p = 0.43). The CT/RT group presented a higher urinary frequency (p < 0.001) and diarrhea (p = 0.025). Patients in the RH group were more sexually active (p = 0.01) and experienced less dyspareunia (p = 0.021). Vaginal length was shorter in RT group (5.5 ± 1.9 cm) and CT/RT(5.3 ± 1.5 cm) than in the RH group (7.4 ± 1.1 cm) (p < 0.001). Pelvic floor muscle contraction was similar (p = 0.302).
CONCLUSIONS: RT and CT/RT treatment for cervical carcinoma are more associated to sexual and intestinal dysfunctions.
Written by:
Noronha AF1, Mello de Figueiredo E, Rossi de Figueiredo Franco TM, Cândido EB, Silva-Filho AL Are you the author?
1Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Mastology, Botucatu Medical School State University of São Paulo UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil
Reference: Int Braz J Urol. 2013 Jan-Feb;39(1):46-54
doi: 10.1590/S1677-5538.IBJU.2013.01.07
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 23489516
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