[Study on the quality of life of patients suffering from localized prostate cancer treated with HIFU].
OBJECTIVE
The treatment of prostate cancer using high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is considered to be mini-invasive and normally has a low rate of morbidity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of life of patients treated with HIFU.


METHODS
Fifty consecutive patients whose first-line treatment was with HIFU for localized cancer of the prostate between 2003 and 2005 received the "UCLA/RAND PCI" quality of life questionnaire at preoperative stage and one year after treatment. The scores for postoperative quality of life were compared to preoperative scores and to a test population who did not have prostate cancer.


RESULTS
Eighty percent of patients answered both questionnaires. 72.5% of the patients were "satisfied" or "very satisfied", 2.5% were "very dissatisfied" and 25% had no opinion. The general quality of life scores (SF-36) did not show any significant differences before and after treatment. Alterations and discomfort concerning sexual and urinary functions were statistically significant. For the digestive function, there was no difference before and after treatment; however, an increase in discomfort felt was statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
The treatment of prostate cancer using HIFU is accepted well by the patient, quality of life is preserved one year later. There is significant degradation of the sexual function and more moderately of the urinary function.
Boudrant
G
G
Service d'urologie, CHRU Brabois, allée du Morvan, 54500 Vandoeuvre-Les-Nancy, France. boudrant.g@free.fr
Mangin
P
P
Feuillu
B
B
Peiffert
D
D
Cormier
L
L
D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000523:psychology