title: Penile length changes in men treated with androgen suppression plus radiation therapy for local or locally advanced prostate cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We determined penile length alterations in men treated with androgen suppression plus radiation therapy for local or locally advanced prostate cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  From November 2000 to November 2005, 47 patients were enrolled in this prospective study. After clinical staging all patients received hormonal therapy (luteinizing hormone releasing agonist, leuprolide acetate or goserelin every 3 months for a total of 3 injections) and at month 7 of hormonal therapy radiation therapy was begun (total 70 Gy) for 7 weeks. Stretched penile length measurements were performed before starting androgen suppression therapy and every 3 months thereafter with a paper ruler.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With the initiation of therapy a gradual decrease in stretched penile length was observed. Penile shortening was statistically significant at a mean followup of 18 months (mean 14.2 to 8.6 cm, p <0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings support observations of decreased penile length after neoadjuvant hormonal therapy plus external beam radiation therapy for local or locally advanced prostate cancer. Patients should be counseled before therapy that penile shortening may occur.
authors.affiliation: University of Ankara, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Urology, Ankara, Turkey. ahmethakan75@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haliloglu
authors.forename: Sumer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baltaci
authors.forename: Onder
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yaman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018450:Disease Progression; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000819:agonists*; D017273:Goserelin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016729:Leuprolide / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010413:Penis / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*
chemical_list: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D017273:Goserelin; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D016729:Leuprolide