title: Impact of post-implant dosimetric parameters on the quality of life of patients treated with low-dose rate brachytherapy for localised prostate cancer: results of a single-institution study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To assess the relationship between dosimetric parameters and the quality of life (QL) outcomes of patients with low-intermediate-risk localised prostate cancer (LPC) treated with low-dose-rate brachytherapy (LDR-BT).
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the participants in two consecutive prospective studies of the QL of patients treated with LDR-BT for LPC. QL was evaluated by means of a patient-completed questionnaire assessing non functional [physical (PHY) and psychological (PSY) well-being, physical autonomy (POW), social relationships (REL)] and functional scales [urinary (URI), rectal (REC), and sexual (SEX) function]; a scale for erectile function (ERE) was included in the second study. Urethra (D10 ≤ 210 Gy) and rectal wall constraints (V100 ≤ 0.5 cc) were used for pre-planning dosimetry and were assessed with post planning computerized tomography one month later for each patient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  QL was assessed in 251 LPC patients. Dosimetry did not influence the non-functional scales. As expected, a progressive impairment in sexual and erectile function was reported one month after LDR-BT, and became statistically significant after the third year. Rectal function significantly worsened after LDR-BT, but the differences progressively decreased after the 1-year assessment. Overall urinary function significantly worsened immediately after LDR-BT and then gradually improved over the next three years. Better outcomes were reported for V100 rectal wall volumes of ≤ 0.5 cc and D10 urethra values of ≤ 210 Gy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this study show that dosimetric parameters influence only functional QL outcomes while non-functional outcomes are only marginally influenced.
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Unit, Santa Chiara Hospital, Largo Medaglie d'Oro 1, 38100, Trento, Italy. antonello.veccia@apss.tn.it.
authors.forename: Antonello
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Veccia
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Unit, Santa Chiara Hospital, Largo Medaglie d'Oro 1, 38100, Trento, Italy. orazio.caffo@apss.tn.it.
authors.forename: Orazio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Caffo
authors.affiliation: Radiotherapy Unit, Santa Chiara Hospital, Largo Medaglie d'Oro 1, 38100, Trento, Italy. giovanni.fellin@apss.tn.it.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fellin
authors.affiliation: Radiotherapy Unit, Santa Chiara Hospital, Largo Medaglie d'Oro 1, 38100, Trento, Italy. salvatore.mussari@apss.tn.it.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mussari
authors.affiliation: Health Physics Unit, Santa Chiara Hospital, Largo Medaglie d'Oro 1, 38100, Trento, Italy. francesco.ziglio@apss.tn.it.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ziglio
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Unit, Santa Chiara Hospital, Largo Medaglie d'Oro 1, 38100, Trento, Italy. francesca.maines@apss.tn.it.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maines
authors.affiliation: Radiotherapy Unit, Santa Chiara Hospital, Largo Medaglie d'Oro 1, 38100, Trento, Italy. luigi.tomio@apss.tn.it.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tomio
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Unit, Santa Chiara Hospital, Largo Medaglie d'Oro 1, 38100, Trento, Italy. enzo.galligioni@apss.tn.it.
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Galligioni
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000523:psychology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D000368:Aged; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058958:Organs at Risk / Q000528:radiation effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted; D012007:Rectum / Q000528:radiation effects; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014521:Urethra / Q000528:radiation effects; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000528:radiation effects; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology