title: [Sexual function after permanent seed implant prostate brachytherapy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term effects of permanent seed implant prostate brachytherapy (BT) on sexual function (SF).
  
  
  METHODS
  From September 2003 to July 2005, 56 patients underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) without any hormone therapy, while 353 patients had undergone BT without any adjuvant hormone therapy in a single institute. Out of these 353 patients in the BT group, 305 patients received neoadjuvant hormone therapy (BT NHT + group), while 48 did not (BT NHT - group). SF was prospectively evaluated using the UCLA Prostate Cancer Index (UCLA-PCI). Potency was defined as the UCLA-PCI Q26 point of > or = 3.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The preimplant UCLA-PCI scores of SF for BT NHT - and BT NHT + groups were 50.9 and 13.4, respectively. The SF score of the NHT - group post operatively decreased to 38.9 within 6 months, but was maintained at the same level after that. With the recovery of the androgen, SF score of the NHT + group improved after BT: however, it did not reach up to that of the NHT - group. In the univariate analysis, patient's age was the only predictive factor for SF after BT. Thirty-four out of 48 patients in the BT NHT - group and 23 out of 56 patients in the RRP group showed adequate potency before surgery. Their 5-year potency preservation rate was 73.6% in the BT NHT - group and 4.3% in the RRP group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SF slightly decreased immediately after BT but was usually maintained during the course observation for 5 years. The 5-year SF preservation rate after BT was 73.6%.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Urology, National Hospital Organization Tokyo Medical Center.
authors.forename: Yasuto
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yagi
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Namitome
authors.forename: Yuho
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kono
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishiyama
authors.forename: Kazuhito
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Toya
authors.forename: Atsunori
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yorozu
authors.forename: Shiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saito
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012725:Sexual Behavior