title: Five-year potency preservation after iodine-125 prostate brachytherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We aimed to evaluate long-term erectile function following prostate brachytherapy, based on patient characteristics and treatment factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2003 and 2006, 665 men with localized prostate cancer were treated with (125)I permanent seed implantation. None was given adjuvant hormone therapy. Erectile function was assessed before treatment, and at 6 months, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years after implantation using the Mount Sinai Erectile Function Score (MSEFS) of 0-3 (0 = no erections, 1 = erections insufficient for intercourse, 2 = suboptimal erections but sufficient for intercourse, 3 = normal erectile function). Potency was defined as score 2 or 3, and 382 men were potent before treatment. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed on the data from these 382 patients to identify variables associated with potency preservation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In patients who were potent before treatment, the actuarial potency preservation rate fell to 46.2 % at 6 months after brachytherapy, and then slowly recovered reaching 52.0 % at 5 years after brachytherapy. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, patient age (p = 0.04) and pre-treatment MSEFS (p < 0.001) were predictors of 5-year potency preservation. Neoadjuvant hormone therapy affected potency preservation only at 6 months after brachytherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patient age at implantation and pre-treatment erectile function are predictive factors for the development of erectile dysfunction following prostate brachytherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, National Hospital Organization Tokyo Medical Center, 2-5-1 Higashigaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 152-8902, Japan.
authors.forename: Shuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: Atsunori
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yorozu
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohashi
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakayori
authors.forename: Yasuto
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yagi
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishiyama
authors.forename: Shiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shiraishi
authors.forename: Kayo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Kazuhito
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Toya
authors.forename: Naoyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shigematsu
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D011467:Prostate / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes