title: External beam radiotherapy in cancer of the prostate. The University of Arizona experience.
abstract: Between 1973 and 1979, 218 patients with adenocarcinoma of the prostate stage A2 through D1 were treated with primary external beam radiotherapy. The majority of the patients (211) received 6000-7000 rad to the prostate using a small (160) or large (58) volume technique. With a minimum follow-up of 36 months and a maximum of 120 months, the control rates of the local tumor were 96%, 95%, 88% and 81% for stage A2, B, C and D1. The corresponding 5-year survivals were 100%, 82%, 60% and 42%. Mild to severe complications were documented in 35 cases (16%). The frequency and severity of the complications correlated with the size of the irradiated volume and history of previous surgery. The use of large fields, to encompass the regional lymphatics, is not associated with improved survival.
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011468:Prostatectomy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects