Long term tolerance of high dose three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy in patients with localized prostate carcinoma

Abstract

The incidence of severe late complications after high dose 3D-CRT was minimal. Radiation doses > or =75.6 Gy and the presence of acute treatment-related symptoms during 3D-CRT correlated with a higher incidence of Grade > or =2 late GI and GU toxicities. In addition to higher doses, the use of androgen deprivation therapy increased the likelihood of permanent impotence in these patients. Intensity-modulated radiotherapy, which makes it possible to enhance the conformality of the dose distribution, has recently been implemented in an attempt to reduce the incidence of moderate grade toxicities in patients receiving high dose 3D-CRT.