[Sexual dysfunctions after prostate cancer radiation therapy].
Sexual dysfunctions are a quality of life main concern following prostate cancer treatment. After both radiotherapy and brachytherapy, sexual function declines progressively, the onset of occurrence of erectile dysfunction being 12-18 months after both treatments. The pathophysiological pathways by which radiotherapy and brachytherapy cause erectile dysfunction are multifactorial, as patient comorbidities, arterial damage, exposure of neurovascular bundle to high levels of radiation, and radiation dose received by the corpora cavernosa at the crurae of the penis may be important in the aetiology of erectile dysfunction. Diagnosis and treatment of postradiation sexual dysfunctions must integrate pretherapeutic evaluation and information to provide to the patient and his partner a multidisciplinary sexual medicine management.
Droupy
S
S
Service d'Urologie-Andrologie, CHU Carémeau, place du Pr-Robert-Debré, 30029 Nîmes cedex 09, France. sdroupy@aol.com
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D015897:Comorbidity; D004414:Dyspareunia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010413:Penis / Q000294:innervation / Q000528:radiation effects; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000528:radiation effects; D015995:Prevalence; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal / Q000009:adverse effects; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires