Bowel morbidity following radiochemotherapy and image-guided adaptive brachytherapy for cervical cancer: Physician- and patient reported outcome from the EMBRACE study.
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE
This study describes late bowel morbidity prospectively assessed in the multi-institutional EMBRACE study on MRI-guided adaptive brachytherapy in locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC).
RESULTS
At 3/5 years the actuarial incidence of bowel morbidity grade 3-4 was 5.0%/5.9%, including incidence of stenosis/stricture/fistula of 2.0%/2.6%. Grade 1-2 morbidity was pronounced with prevalence rates of 28-33% during follow-up. Diarrhea and flatulence were most frequently reported, significantly increased after 3 months and remained elevated during follow-up. Incontinence gradually worsened with time. PRO revealed high prevalence rates. Diarrhea ≥"a little" increased from 26% to 37% at baseline to 3 months and remained elevated, difficulty in controlling bowel increased from 11% to 26% at baseline to 3 months gradually worsening with time. Constipation and abdominal cramps improved after treatment.
CONCLUSION
Bowel morbidity reported in this large cohort of LACC patients was limited regarding severe/life-threatening events. Mild-moderate diarrhea, flatulence, and incontinence were prevalent after treatment with PROs indicating a considerable and clinically relevant burden. Critical knowledge based on the extent and manifestation pattern of treatment-related morbidity will serve future patient management.