Anal and rectal function after intensity-modulated prostate radiotherapy with endorectal balloon.

Background And Purpose: Late anorectal toxicity influences quality of life after external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for prostate cancer. A daily inserted endorectal balloon (ERB) during EBRT aims to reduce anorectal toxicity. Our goal is to objectify anorectal function over time after prostate intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with ERB.

Standard whole prostate gland radiotherapy with and without lesion boost in prostate cancer: Toxicity in the FLAME randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: To compare toxicity rates in patients with localized prostate cancer treated with standard fractionated external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) with or without an additional integrated boost to the macroscopically visible tumour.

Material And Methods: FLAME is a phase 3 multicentre RCT (NCT01168479) of patients with pathologically confirmed localized intermediate or high-risk prostate cancer. The standard treatment arm (n = 287) received a dose to the entire prostate of 77 Gy in 35 fractions.

Endorectal balloon reduces anorectal doses in post-prostatectomy intensity-modulated radiotherapy.

Background And Purpose: To investigate the effect of an endorectal balloon (ERB) on anal wall (Awall) and rectal wall (Rwall) doses in high-dose post-prostatectomy intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).

Materials And Methods: For 20 patients, referred for salvage IMRT after prostatectomy for prostate cancer, two planning CT-scans were performed: one with and one without an air-filled ERB. A planning target volume (PTV) was defined, using international guidelines.

Ultrasound-guided transrectal implantation of gold markers for prostate localization during external beam radiotherapy: complication rate and risk factors.

Purpose: To report the complication rate and risk factors of transrectally implanted gold markers, used for prostate position verification and correction procedures.

Methods And Materials: In 209 consecutive men with localized prostate cancer, four gold markers (1 x 7 mm) were inserted under ultrasound guidance in an outpatient setting, and the toxicity was analyzed. All patients received a questionnaire regarding complications after marker implantation.