Penile length changes in men treated with androgen suppression plus radiation therapy for local or locally advanced prostate cancer.
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.
Haliloglu
Ahmet
A
University of Ankara, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Urology, Ankara, Turkey. ahmethakan75@yahoo.com
Baltaci
Sumer
S
Yaman
Onder
O
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*
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D017273:Goserelin; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D016729:Leuprolide