BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To evaluate dosimetric parameters related to urethral strictures following high dose-rate brachytherapy (HDRBT) alone for prostate cancer.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ten strictures were identified in 213 patients treated with HDRBT alone receiving 34Gy in four fractions, 36Gy in four fractions, 31.5Gy in 3 fractions or 26Gy in 2 fractions. A matched-pair analysis used 2 controls for each case matched for dose fractionation schedule, pre-treatment IPSS score, number of needles used and clinical target volume. The urethra was divided into membranous urethra and inferior, mid and superior thirds of the prostatic urethra.
RESULTS: Stricture rates were 3% in the 34Gy group, 4% in the 36Gy group, 6% in the 31.5Gy group and 4% in the 26Gy group. The median time to stricture formation was 26months (range 8-40). The dosimetric parameters investigated were not statistically different between cases and controls. No correlation was seen between stricture rate and fractionation schedule.
CONCLUSIONS: Urethral stricture is an infrequent complication of prostate HDRBT when used to deliver high doses as sole treatment, with an overall incidence in this cohort of 10/213 (4.7%). In a matched pair analysis no association with dose schedule or urethral dosimetry was identified, but the small number of events limits definitive conclusions.
Written by:
Díez P, Mullassery V, Dankulchai P, Ostler P, Hughes R, Alonzi R, Lowe G, Hoskin PJ. Are you the author?
Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, Northwood, UK.
Reference: Radiother Oncol. 2014 Dec;113(3):410-3.
doi: 10.1016/j.radonc.2014.10.007
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 25544648