Palliative radiotherapy for gynecologic malignancies

Palliative care is recommended to be introduced early in the treatment of gynecologic cancers. Palliative radiation therapy plays an important role in the multidisciplinary management of women with gynecologic cancers. Initial assessment requires a holistic view of the patient’s physical and emotional needs, and then optimal recommendation is based on their disease course, prognosis, and needs. Short courses of external beam radiotherapy, supported by high-level evidence, can be effectively used for palliation of pain, bleeding, and other symptoms. In select situations, other methods, including re-irradiation or brachytherapy, may be used. Palliative radiation therapy can be utilized for both treatment of the primary lesion and metastatic sites.