A prospective study of salvage high-intensity focused ultrasound for locally radiorecurrent prostate cancer: early results.
OBJECTIVE
After radical external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), local recurrence may benefit from definitive local therapy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and short-term biochemical results and morbidity after salvage high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment in patients with biopsy-proven local prostate cancer recurrence after EBRT.


METHODS
From October 2006 46 patients were treated with HIFU. Bone scan and abdominal CT/MRI scan were negative. Median follow-up was 9 months (range 3-24 months).


RESULTS
The median prostate-specific antigen (PSA) nadir was 0.3 ng/ml (range 0-24 ng/ml). Eighteen patients (39.1%) were classified as failures. In addition, there were four patients (8.7%) with post-HIFU PSA nadir > 0.5 ng/ml. No patients died during follow-up. One patient developed urethrorectal fistulae and was successfully treated conservatively. Two patients developed urethrocutaneous fistulae. Seven patients (15.2%) and one patient (2.1%) developed grade 2 and grade 3 incontinence, respectively. Seven men (15.2%) had erectile function sufficient for intercourse pre-HIFU and only two men (4.3%) post-HIFU.


CONCLUSIONS
Early results of salvage HIFU in patients with local recurrence of prostate cancer after radical EBRT indicate the procedure to be a reasonable treatment option, but better patient selection criteria are needed. The side-effects are not negligible.
Berge
Viktor
V
Department of Urology, Oslo University Hospital, Aker, Oslo, Norway. viktbe@online.no
Baco
Eduard
E
Karlsen
Steinar Johan
SJ
D000368:Aged; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016879:Salvage Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D036761:Ultrasound, High-Intensity Focused, Transrectal / Q000379:methods*
D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen