Longitudinal Study of Intestinal Symptoms and Fecal Continence in Patients With Conformal Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer

Journal Article · Fri Apr 01 04:00:00 EDT 2011 · International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrobp.2010.01.033· OSTI ID:21491677

Geinitz, Hans ^[1]; Thamm, Reinhard ^[1]; Keller, Monika ^[2]; Astner, Sabrina T; Heinrich, Christine; Scholz, Christian ^[1]; Pehl, Christian ^[3]; Kerndl, Simone; Prause, Nina ^[1]; Busch, Raymonde ^[4]; Molls, Michael; Zimmermann, Frank B ^[1]

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1. Klinik und Poliklinik fuer Strahlentherapie und Radiologische Onkologie, Technische Universitaet Muenchen, Muenchen (Germany)
2. Sektion Psychoonkologie, Klinik fuer Psychosomatische und Allgemeine Klinische Medizin, Universitaetsklinik Heidelberg, Heidelberg (Germany)
3. Medizinische Klinik, Kreiskrankenhaus Vilsbiburg, Vilsbiburg (Germany)
4. Institut fuer Medizinische Statistik und Epidemiologie, Technische Universitaet Muenchen, Muenchen (Germany)

Purpose: To prospectively assess the intestinal symptoms and fecal continence in patients who had undergone conformal radiotherapy (CRT) for prostate cancer. Methods and Materials: 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. Results: 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. Conclusion: 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.

• OSTI ID: 21491677
• Journal Information: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, Journal Name: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 79; ISSN IOBPD3; ISSN 0360-3016
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL WASTES
BODY
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISEASES
FECES
GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
GLANDS
INTESTINES
LARGE INTESTINE
MALE GENITALS
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
NEOPLASMS
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANS
PAIN
PROSTATE
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
RECTUM
SYMPTOMS
THERAPY
WASTES