Side-effects of post-treatment biopsies in prostate cancer patients treated with endocrine therapy alone or combined with radical radiotherapy in the Scandinavian Prostate Cancer Group-7 randomized trial - Abstract

Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Umea University Hospital, Umea, Sweden.

 

Post-treatment prostate biopsy side-effects were evaluated in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer on endocrine therapy alone or combined with radiotherapy in the Scandinavian Prostate Cancer Group-7 randomized trial.

One-hundred and twenty patients underwent transrectalultrasound-guided biopsy, and were requested to complete a questionnaire on side-effects occurring within 7 days' follow-up.

The questionnaire was returned by 109 patients (91%) (endocrine therapy only 52%, combined endocrine therapy and radiotherapy 48%). Previous therapy had no significant influence on pain, urinary flow, haematuria or haematospermia. Pain at biopsy was reported in 63% (mild, 57%; moderate, 5.6%; severe, one patient) and pain at follow-up in 31% (mild, 27%; moderate, four patients). Haematuria (mean duration 2.2 days) was reported in 41%, and reduced urinary flow in 20% (mild, 18%; severe: four patients; no patient had urinary retention). Haematospermia was scarce. No patient reported urinary tract infection. Rectal bleeding occurred in 18% in the endocrine and 35% in the combined therapy group (p = 0.047), with a mean duration of 1.6 and 2.2 days, respectively (p = 0.031). In logistic regression analysis, a trend towards increased rectal bleeding was found in patients on combined endocrine therapy and radiotherapy (odds ratio 2.4, p = 0.050).

Patient-reported post-treatment prostate biopsy side-effects were mild and self-limiting.

Written by:
Solberg A, Widmark A, Tasdemir I, Ahlgren G, Angelsen A.   Are you the author?

Reference: Scand J Urol Nephrol. 2011 Mar 31. Epub ahead of print.

PubMed Abstract
PMID: 21452932

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