Assessment of postbrachytherapy sexual function: a comparison of the IIEF-5 and the MSEFS.
OBJECTIVE
This study is to compare the Mount Sinai Erectile Function Score (MSEFS), our brachytherapy program's physician-assigned scale, with patients' independently completed International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5).


METHODS
A total of 1202 patients with T1-T3 prostate cancer were treated with ultrasound-guided radioactive seed implantation +/- EBRT with at least one visit where both MSEFS and IIEF-5 were completed. Spearman rho correlations were performed.


RESULTS
The MSEFS significantly correlated with the total IIEF-5 scores on all comparisons. The coefficient was 0.65 for comparisons at initial consultation and 0.76 for all visits. The correlations remained strong, averaging to 0.76 for visits 1 through 10.


CONCLUSIONS
In assessing erectile dysfunction after radiation, the MSEFS correlates well with, but cannot be replaced by, the IIEF-5, which is weighted toward one's degree of sexual desire. More insight into patients' erectile function after brachytherapy may be gotten if the IIEF-15 is used instead of the IIEF-5 with our MSEFS.
Zagar
Timothy M
TM
Department of Radiation Oncology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
Stock
Richard G
RG
Cesaretti
Jamie A
JA
Stone
Nelson N
NN
D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D010165:Palladium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D011868:Radioisotopes; D010165:Palladium