Long-term urinary, sexual, and rectal morbidity in patients treated with iodine-125 prostate brachytherapy followed up for a minimum of 5 years.
OBJECTIVE
To define the long-term morbidity in patients with prostate cancer who underwent iodine-125 brachytherapy.


METHODS
A total of 325 men with localized prostate cancer treated with iodine-125 brachytherapy had a median follow-up of 7 years (range 5 to 15). The American Urological Association symptom score, erectile function status, rectal bleeding incidence, and presence of urinary incontinence were collected prospectively before implantation and every 6 months thereafter. Comparisons were made between the pretreatment and treatment-related factors and their associations with quality-of-life changes. Associations were tested using the Student t, chi-square, and Wilcoxon signed rank tests.


RESULTS
The median prostate volume and maximal dose to 90% of the prostate was 36.6 cm3 and 167 Gy, respectively. Of the 325 men, 15.7% experienced prostate-specific antigen failure and 4% started androgen deprivation therapy. The mean total symptom and bother scores increased from baseline (P <0.001) to 6 months after implantation, steadily decreased, and were unchanged at the last follow-up visit (P = 0.6). There were no significant associations among patient age, race, hormonal therapy use, prostate size, radiation dose, and urinary morbidity. Incontinence occurred in 4 (1.2%) of the 325 patients at the last follow-up visit and was associated with transurethral resection of the prostate (odds ratio 8.8, 95% confidence interval 1.3 to 62, P = 0.008). Before implantation, 77.2% were able to have an erection adequate for intercourse and 50.6% were able to at the last follow-up visit. A significant correlation was found between potency preservation and age (P <0.001). Rectal bleeding occurred in 78 men (24%) 1 to 3 years after implantation. Nine patients (2.8%) complained of minor bleeding beyond 5 years, which was associated with greater radiation doses (P = 0.023).


CONCLUSIONS
The preservation of urinary, sexual, and rectal quality of life is excellent at long follow-up for patients implanted with iodine-125.
Stone
Nelson N
NN
Department of Urology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA. nelsonstone@optonline.net
Stock
Richard G
RG
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011336:Probability; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012007:Rectum / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014551:Urinary Tract / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000528:radiation effects*
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen