Longitudinal study of intestinal symptoms and fecal continence in patients with conformal radiotherapy for prostate cancer.

Geinitz, H; Thamm, R; Keller, M; Astner, ST; Heinrich, C; Scholz, C; Pehl, C; Kerndl, S; Prause, N; Busch, R; Molls, M; Zimmermann, FB

doi:10.1016/j.ijrobp.2010.01.033

2011

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Document type:: Journal Article
Author(s):: Geinitz, H; Thamm, R; Keller, M; Astner, ST; Heinrich, C; Scholz, C; Pehl, C; Kerndl, S; Prause, N; Busch, R; Molls, M; Zimmermann, FB
Title:: Longitudinal study of intestinal symptoms and fecal continence in patients with conformal radiotherapy for prostate cancer.
Abstract:: To prospectively assess the intestinal symptoms and fecal continence in patients who had undergone conformal radiotherapy (CRT) for prostate cancer.A total of 78 men who had undergone definitive CRT for prostate cancer were evaluated. The patients were assessed before, during (treatment Weeks 4 and 6), and 2, 12, and 24 months after CRT completion. The intestinal symptoms and fecal continence were evaluated with comprehensive standardized questionnaires.The intestinal symptoms were mostly intermittent, with only a small minority of patients affected daily. Defecation pain, fecal urge, and rectal mucous discharge increased significantly during therapy. Defecation pain and rectal mucous discharge had returned to baseline levels within 8 weeks and 1 year after CRT, respectively. However, fecal urge remained significantly elevated for <=1 year and then returned toward the pretreatment values. The prevalence of rectal bleeding was significantly elevated 2 years after CRT. Fecal continence deteriorated during CRT and remained impaired at 1 year after treatment. Incontinence was mostly minor, occurring less than once per week and predominantly affecting incontinence for gas.Intestinal symptoms and fecal incontinence increased during prostate CRT. Except for rectal bleeding, the intestinal symptoms, including fecal incontinence, returned to baseline levels within 1-2 years after CRT. Thus, the rate of long-term late radiation-related intestinal toxicity was low.
Journal title abbreviation:: Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys
Year:: 2011
Journal volume:: 79
Journal issue:: 5
Pages contribution:: 1373-80
Language:: eng
Fulltext / DOI:: doi:10.1016/j.ijrobp.2010.01.033
Pubmed ID:: http://view.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21030158
Print-ISSN:: 0360-3016
TUM Institution:: Institut für Medizinische Statistik und Epidemiologie; Klinik und Poliklinik für RadioOnkologie und Strahlentherapie
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