From 1964 to 1980

97 patients with Stage IIb carcinoma of the cervix were were treated by external 60Co irradiation alone. Of these 97 patients

91 (96.9%) were squamous cell carcinoma. The carcinoma has extended to the parametrium but not as far as the pelvic wall in 73.2% of the cases. A total dose of 6000 cGy was given to the whole pelvis with A-P

P-A

and 2 opposing parallel lateral portals in 6-8 weeks. Boosting dose of 1000 cGy was given to the cervix uteri with reduced A-P

P-A portals or a perineal portal for one more week. The five-year survival rate was 59.8%. The prognosis for patients without residual tumor on the cervix or cervix and vagina was better than patients with residual tumor (p<0.01). There were only mild radiation reactions during treatment in our series. Late complictions included 19 (19.6%) with slight cystitis

16 (16.5%) with slight proctitis

and 2 (2.1%) with recto-vaginal fistula and were less when source to skin distance was more than 60 cm (p<0.01)