title: Effects of radiation therapy on the structure and function of the pelvic floor muscles of patients with cancer in the pelvic area: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Radiation therapy (RT) is often recommended in the treatment of pelvic cancers. Following RT, a high prevalence of pelvic floor dysfunctions (urinary incontinence, dyspareunia, and fecal incontinence) is reported. However, changes in pelvic floor muscles (PFMs) after RT remain unclear. The purpose of this review was to systematically document the effects of RT on the PFM structure and function in patients with cancer in the pelvic area.
  
  
  METHODS
  An electronic literature search using Pubmed Central, CINAHL, Embase, and SCOPUS was performed from date of inception up to June 2014. The following keywords were used: radiotherapy, muscle tissue, and pelvic floor. Two reviewers selected the studies in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Statement (PRISMA). Out of the 369 articles screened, 13 met all eligibility criteria. The methodological quality was assessed using the QualSyst scoring system, and standardized mean differences were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen studies fulfilled all inclusion criteria, from which four were of good methodological quality. One presented strong evidence that RT affects PFM structure in men treated for prostate cancer. Four presented high-level evidence that RT affects PFM function in patients treated for rectal cancer. Meta-analysis was not possible due to heterogeneity and lack of descriptive statistics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is some evidence that RT has detrimental impacts on both PFMs' structure and function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A better understanding of muscle damage and dysfunction following RT treatment will improve pelvic floor rehabilitation and, potentially, prevention of its detrimental impacts.
authors: Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, 1050, avenue de la Médecine, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada. stephanie.bernard@cirris.ulaval.ca.|Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration, 525, boulevard Wilfrid-Hamel, Québec, QC, G1M 2S8, Canada. stephanie.bernard@cirris.ulaval.ca.
authors: Stéphanie
authors: S
authors: Bernard
authors: Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, 1050, avenue de la Médecine, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada.|Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec, 2705, boulevard Laurier, Québec, QC, G1V 4G2, Canada.
authors: Marie-Pier
authors: MP
authors: Ouellet
authors: Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, 1050, avenue de la Médecine, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada.|Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration, 525, boulevard Wilfrid-Hamel, Québec, QC, G1M 2S8, Canada.
authors: Hélène
authors: H
authors: Moffet
authors: Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, 1050, avenue de la Médecine, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada.|Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration, 525, boulevard Wilfrid-Hamel, Québec, QC, G1M 2S8, Canada.
authors: Jean-Sébastien
authors: JS
authors: Roy
authors: Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, 4565 ch. Reine-Marie, Montréal, QC, H3W 1W5, Canada.
authors: Chantale
authors: C
authors: Dumoulin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology; D059952:Pelvic Floor Disorders / Q000473:pathology*; D010386:Pelvic Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Cancer survivorship; Literature review; Pelvic cancer; Pelvic floor disorders; Pelvic floor muscles; Radiation therapy