[Indications and methods of megavolt therapy in prostatic cancer--evaluation of 98 cases]

A report is given on 98 unselected cases of carcinoma of the prostate, treated at the University Department of Radiotherapy and Radiobiology of Vienna from January 1974 till December 1979. 85% of the patients were over 60 years old. More than the half of them had been subjected to surgery or had undergone hormone therapy before starting radiotherapy. Moreover, more than 50% of the patients showed advanced disease (stages C or D). Local control was achieved in about 95% of cases. Long-term side effects such as irradiation damage to bladder or gut occurred in about 5% patients only. Survival rate was 75.5% after 3 years, 66.7% after 5 years and 46.7% after 7 years. Recommendations as to the management of such an unselected patient group are given. Our modified radiation technique is presented.