Treatments for invasive carcinoma of the cervix: what are their impacts on the pelvic floor functions?

• Autor(a) principal: Noronha,Alessandra Ferreira de
• Data de Publicação: 2013
• Outros Autores: Figueiredo,Elyonara Mello de, Franco,Telma Maria Rossi de Figueiredo, Cândido,Eduardo Batista, Silva-Filho,Agnaldo L.
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: International Braz J Urol (Online)
• Texto Completo: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1677-55382013000100046
• topic: Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Hysterectomy; Radiation; Chemoradiotherapy; Pelvic Floor

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 ± 1.9cm) 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.