title: Health-related quality of life after permanent I-125 brachytherapy and conformal external beam radiotherapy for prostate cancer--a matched-pair comparison.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to compare quality of life after permanent I-125 brachytherapy (BT) and external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for prostate cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of 104 patients (52 in each group) have been surveyed prospectively before EBRT/BT (time A), at the last day of EBRT (70.2-72.0 Gy) or one month after BT (time B), and a median time of 16 months after EBRT/BT (time C) using a validated questionnaire (Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite). Pairs were matched according to the following criteria: age +/-5 years, prostate volume +/-10 cc, use of antiandrogens, and erectile function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Urinary function/bother scores decreased significantly more after BT both at time B and time C. Bowel function/bother scores tended to be higher after BT, with a lower percentage of patients with painful bowel movements (BT: 12%/27%/15%; EBRT: 19%/52%/35% at time A/B/C; p<0.05 for differences at times B/C) and rectal bleeding (BT: 12%/12%/12%; EBRT: 8%/14%/17%). No difference concerning erectile dysfunction was found (67% vs. 61% with preserved erections firm enough for intercourse after BT vs. EBRT at time C).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BT was associated with higher urinary, but lower rectal toxicity. The risk of treatment-associated erectile dysfunction did not differ between these methods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany. MPinkawa@ukaachen.de
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pinkawa
authors.forename: Branka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Asadpour
authors.forename: Marc D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Piroth
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gagel
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nussen
authors.forename: Mareike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kehl
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Borchers
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jakse
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Eble
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes