BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Erectile function (EF) is commonly affected following prostate cancer treatment.
We aim to evaluate the long-term EF following seed brachytherapy (BT) treatment.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study consisted of 366 patients treated with BT at our institution, who completed the IIEF-5 questionnaire and reported no or mild erectile dysfunction (ED) pre-BT. The probability of EF preservation post-BT was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier methods. The difference in EF preservation by patient-, tumour- and treatment-related factors was assessed using the log-rank test. Multivariate Cox regression was used to estimate the effect of each factor on EF preservation.
RESULTS: Of the 366 patients, 277 (76%) reported normal EF, and 89 (24%) reported mild ED. The patients were followed-up for a median of 41months (range: 3-124), and the 5-year actuarial rate of EF preservation was 59%. Age at BT seed implant, presence of medical comorbidities, Gleason score and the biologically effective dose (BED) are associated with EF preservation (P< 0.005). The association for these four factors remains statistically significant in multivariate analysis, with Gleason score having the strongest effect (HR=3.7; 95% CI=2.6-5.4).
CONCLUSION: The 5-year actuarial rate of EF preservation post-BT in our cohort is 59%, and is influenced by multiple factors.
Written by:
Ong WL, Hindson BR, Beaufort C, Pharoah P, Millar JL. Are you the author?
William Buckland Radiotherapy Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom; Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
Reference: Radiother Oncol. 2014 Jul 30. pii: S0167-8140(14)00258-8.
doi: 10.1016/j.radonc.2014.04.017
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 25086852
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