Impact of moderate dose of postoperative radiation on urinary continence and potency in patients with prostate cancer treated with nerve sparing prostatectomy.

PURPOSE

We analyzed the impact on potency and urinary continence of moderate doses of radiation (45 to 54 Gy.) given postoperatively after nerve sparing prostatectomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between 1983 and 1992, 294 of 762 prostate cancer patients were selected to undergo nerve sparing prostatectomy. Subjective patient reports regarding potency and urinary continence status were obtained preoperatively, 1 year postoperatively or 1 year after completion of radiation.

RESULTS

Of the 294 patients 105 received postoperative radiotherapy (45 to 54 Gy.) to the prostatic bed. There were patients with more advanced stages of disease in the irradiated group, including 89% with stages C and D1 (pT3N0 and pT1 to 3, N1 to 3), compared to 14% with stages C and D1 (pT3N0 and pT1 to 3, N1 to 3) in the nonirradiated group (p < 0.001). No difference in urinary continence was noted in the irradiated (94%) compared to the nonirradiated group (92%, p = 0.64). Of the patients who underwent bilateral nerve sparing prostatectomy 44% who received and 48% who did not receive radiation had recovered potency at 1 year (p = 0.76). Of those who underwent unilateral nerve sparing prostatectomy 10% who received and 33% who did not receive radiation had recovered potency at 1 year (p = 0.14). Using multivariate analysis patient age younger than 63 years and bilateral versus unilateral nerve sparing procedures were significant predictors of potency.

CONCLUSIONS

Our retrospective study suggests that at 1 year after treatment moderate doses of postoperative radiotherapy did not have a significant impact on the recovery of urinary continence and potency after nerve sparing prostatectomy. However, longer followup is required to determine the impact of this radiation protocol on long-term preservation of potency after nerve sparing prostatectomy.