title: 3-D conformal radiotherapy of localized prostate cancer: a subgroup analysis of rectoscopic findings prior to radiotherapy and acute/late rectal side effects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify endoscopic pathological findings prior to radiotherapy and a possible correlation with acute or chronic rectal side effects after three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) for prostate cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 03/99 and 07/02, a total of 298 patients, who consented in a voluntary rectoscopy prior to radiotherapy were included into the analysis. Patients were treated with a total dose of either 70 or 74 Gy. Pathological rectoscopic findings like hemorrhoids, polyps or diverticula were documented. Acute and late rectal side effects were scored using the EORTC/RTOG score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most frequent pathological endosopic findings were hemorrhoids (35%), polyps (24%) and diverticula (13%). Rectal toxicity was mostly low to moderate. Grade 0/1 cumulative acute and late rectal side effects were 82 and 84%, grade 2 were 18 and 17%, respectively. We could not identify any correlation between preexisting pathological findings and rectal side effects by statistical analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is no evidence that prostate cancer patients presenting with endoscopic verified pathological findings in the rectal mucosa at diagnosis are at an increased risk to develop rectal side effects when treated with 3D-CRT of the prostatic region.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy and Radiobiology, Vienna General Hospital, University of Vienna Medical School,Vienna, Austria. gregor.goldner@akhwien.at
authors.forename: Gregor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Goldner
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.forename: Horst
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Feldmann
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Glocker
authors.forename: Natascha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wachter-Gerstner
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Geinitz
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pötzi
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wambersie
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bamberg
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Molls
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wachter
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pötter
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003113:Colonoscopy; D004240:Diverticulum / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006484:Hemorrhoids / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011127:Polyps / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D011379:Prognosis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011832:Radiation Injuries; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012007:Rectum / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology* / Q000528:radiation effects