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The role of external beam radiation therapy after prostatectomy for prostate cancer
Author(s) -
Hanks Gerald E.,
Dawson Anne K.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19861201)58:11<2406::aid-cncr2820581109>3.0.co;2-9
Subject(s) - medicine , prostatectomy , prostate cancer , radiation therapy , external beam radiation , surgery , urology , prostate , cancer
The role of radiation therapy as an adjuvant to prostatectomy is evaluated in 21 patients. Eleven were treated prior to clinical recurrence with 100% local control, no serious complications, and 86% long‐term survival. Ten were treated after local recurrence with 80% local control, no serious complications, and 71% long‐term survival. These data and the available literature indicate that the patient found to have capsular penetration, seminal vesicle involvement, or positive surgical margins at prostatectomy can be salvaged by postsurgical radiation therapy. When this is done after recovery from surgery, rather than waiting for clinical recurrence, a lower radiation dose can be used (6000 rad vs. 7000 rad), improved local control is obtained (94% vs. 79%), and fewer serious complications are observed.