Radiotherapeutic treatment of Peyronie s disease

Peyronie's disease is a benign condition, affecting middle-aged men of between 40 and 60 years of age. The symptoms are penile pain in the early inflammatory phase, curvature during erection and erectile dysfunction. The origin of Peyronie's disease is not fully understood. A trauma of the penis with subsequent deposition of fibrin and formation of a fibrotic plaque in the tunica albuginea is the most likely pathophysiological mechanism. Empirical treatments have been attempted with inconclusive results since most of the studies were noncontrolled. In this review, the most important data on the epidemiology, etiology, diagnostic approaches and treatment modalities of Peyronie's disease are addressed. Low-dose (12-15 Gy) radiotherapy has been reported as a successful treatment modality to reduce penile pain and curvature in the early stages of the disease, in noncontrolled studies. Currently, no side effects have been reported. This review critically addresses Peyronie's disease, its treatments, corresponding outcomes and future treatment possibilities. The problems of obtaining good-quality outcomes data for radiotherapeutic approaches are highlighted.