ABSTRACT
Gynecological cancers refer to cancers of the ovary, fallopian tubes, body of the uterus, cervix, vagina, and vulva. ey comprise a heterogeneous group of cancers treated with diering strategies. Depending on the site of origin, brachytherapy (BT) has a diverse role in the management of these cancers. Cancer of the endometrium and cervix are the most commonly treated gynecological cancers worldwide. e incidence of cervical cancers is about 12,000/year in the United States, although the incidence is higher in the developing countries and parts of Asia and Africa (Jemal et al. 2008). It is a major problem accounting for almost 450,000 cases worldwide in 2002 and resulting in about 270,000 deaths. It is the third most common cancer in women worldwide. Nearly 80% of the cervical cancers are seen in the developing countries where it is the second most common cause of death in the female population. Increased screening and accessibility to health care are major reasons for the discordance in these rates. ere is a strong association between the prevalence of human papilloma virus (HPV) infection and cervical cancer incidence. e other associations include smoking, use of oral contraceptives, multiplicity of sexual partners, age at rst sexual intercourse, chronic immunosuppression, and history of sexually transmitted diseases. Adenocarcinoma of the endometrium
is the most common gynecologic cancer in the United States, accounting for an estimated 40,000 new patients in 2008 with nearly 7500 deaths (Ueda et al. 2008). Uterine sarcomas are relatively uncommon, representing less than 7% of uterine cancers.
