Radiotherapy for prostate carcinoma

The charts of 96 patients who received radiotherapy at The M. S. Hershey Medical Center for their prostatic carcinoma were reviewed. The 4-year NED (no evidence of disease) survival rates for patients receiving between 6,500 and 7,000 rad of external beam radiation (EBR) were 92, 78, 56, and 50% for stages A, B, C, and D1, respectively. The 4-year NED survival rate for stage B patients was 90% for those receiving approximately 6,500 rad of EBR, 75% for those receiving approximately 7,000 rad of EBR, and 71% for those receiving interstitial implants. Bowel or urinary complications occurred in 27% (21% grade I, 3% grade II, and 3% grade III) of those receiving approximately 6,500 rad of EBR, 40% (25% grade I, 10% grade II, and 5% grade III) of those receiving 7,000 rad of EBR, and 0% of those receiving interstitial implants. The effects of stage, grade, and treatment type on NED survival and complications are discussed.