Cervical cancer patterns of care in Italy: A radiation oncology survey of MITO and AIRO GYN groups

Large heterogeneity in therapeutic approaches to cervical cancer (CC) patients has been registered worldwide; a national survey exploring practice settings and equipments in CC treatment was distributed to radiation oncologists. Questionnaires were compiled in 90 of 194 Centers (compliance: 46.3 %). Most of respondents reported the presence of multidisciplinary tumor board, and modern equipments/techniques; 55.5 % of centers reported >1 brachytherapy (BT) equipment, thus implying the need to refer their patients outside for the remaining centers. Post-surgery radiotherapy was performed in 96.7 % of early CC (ECC) cases with pathological high risk factors. Exclusive chemoradiation with concomitant platinum schedules was referred to be used by 84.4 % of centers in locally advanced CC. Alternative options were reported with a range between 4.4 and 28.9 %. The present survey reports a broad spectrum of therapeutic options for CC in Italy. Availability and use of modern techniques is quite diffuse, but the distribution of BT resources and skills remains a challenge.