Urinary toxicity after high dose intensity modulated radiotherapy as primary therapy for prostate cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Urinary toxicity plays a major role in the quality of life (QOL) of patients treated with external beam radiotherapy as primary therapy for prostate cancer. In this study we report on: (1) Incidence of acute and late GU toxicity after intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for prostate cancer at Ghent University Hospital (GUH). (2) Time evolution of pre-IMRT and IMRT-induced acute and late GU toxicity.


METHODS
At GUH, 260 patients with a follow-up of > or = 12 months were treated with IMRT for prostate cancer. The incidence and evolution of GU toxicity were recorded.


RESULTS
Acute grades 3, 2 and 1 GU toxicity occurred in 8%, 42% and 42% of the patients, respectively. Late grades 3, 2 and 1 GU toxicity occurred in 3%, 19% and 40% of the patients, respectively. During therapy baseline grade 1 symptoms increased into grade 2 acute GU toxicity in 48%. After 1 and 2 years, 60% and 70% of the patients, respectively, had less GU symptoms when compared to the pre-treatment status.


CONCLUSIONS
IMRT induces mild GU toxicity. There is an improvement in pre-IMRT obstructive miction disorders.
Department of Radiotherapy, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium. valerie.fonteyne@uzgent.be
Valérie
V
Fonteyne
Geert
G
Villeirs
Nicolaas
N
Lumen
Gert
G
De Meerleer
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011832:Radiation Injuries; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014566:Urogenital System / Q000528:radiation effects*