title: Brachytherapy for penile cancer: efficacy and impact on sexual function.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Penis brachytherapy (PB) remains an alternative in the cancer treatment. The objective of this study was to assess the oncologic outcomes, sexual function, and the sexual behavior of men treated by PB for a cancer of the penis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1992 and 2009, 47 patients with a cancer of the penis were treated by PB ((192)Ir), in the Toulouse, Montpellier, and Barcelona cancer centers. The investigation into their sexuality was obtained by means of questionnaire. A total of 21 French patients were approached, of whom 19 (mean age=73.2 years) agreed to answer the questionnaire (participation rate=90.5%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Oncologic data: The specific survival and the disease-free survival at 5 years was 87.6% (95% confidence interval, 72.4-94.7%) and 84% (95% confidence interval, 57.6-94.7%), respectively. The rate of preservation of the penis was 66% (n=31). Sexual data: Among the 17 patients sexually active before brachytherapy, 10 patients remained sexually active after treatment (58.8%). Of the 18 patients who had erections before PB, 17 still had them after treatment (94.4%). Age was the main predictive factor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PB seems to have a moderated impact on the sexual functions and the sexual behavior of the patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Andrology and Sexology, Toulouse Rangueil University Hospital, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Delaunay
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Andrology and Sexology, Toulouse Rangueil University Hospital, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Patrice Njomnang
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Soh
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Claudius Regaud Cancer Center, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delannes
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Val d'Aurelle Cancer Center, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Riou
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Andrology and Sexology, Toulouse Rangueil University Hospital, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Malavaud
authors.affiliation: Institut Català d'Oncologia, Hospital Duran I Reynals, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Ferran
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.affiliation: Institut Català d'Oncologia, Hospital Duran I Reynals, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Craven
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Andrology and Sexology, Toulouse Rangueil University Hospital, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soulie
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Andrology and Sexology, Toulouse Rangueil University Hospital, Toulouse, France. Electronic address: huyghe.e@chu-toulouse.fr.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Huyghe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010412:Penile Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011859:Radiography; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology*; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Brachytherapy; IIEF score; Oncological data; Penile carcinoma