Treatment options in bulky stage IB cervical carcinoma

Abstract

Cervical cancer is the most common female cancer in the developing countries. Treatments of bulky stage IB cervical cancer have been challenged as the local control is relatively poor compared to smaller stage I disease, whether treated by radical surgery or irradiation. The treatment options are definitive concurrent chemoradiation therapy or radical surgery with or without neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy. The treatment decision is based on the patients' status and preferences, tumor characteristics, and experiences of clinician. This study will review and compare the treatment modalities and rationales of a combination of treatment including surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy for bulky stage IB cervical carcinoma.