[Radiotherapy of the prostate carcinoma (author's transl)]

41 patients were submitted to telecobalt irradiations of the prostate and the adjoining lymph drain regions. The absence of remote metastases was verified by X-ray examinations of the skeleton and bone scintigrams, and stades were divided by means of lymphography. The overall 3,5-year survival rate was 79.9%, the 3,5-year survival rate of the patients without lymph node metastases was 100% and that of the group with lymph node metastases was 25%. 69,6% of all patients had no recurrences after 3.5 years, the corresponding rate for the patients without lymph node metastases was 84% and that for the patients with lymph node metastases was 24.6%. The difference between patients with and patients without lymph node metastases demonstrated by lymphography was statistically significant and decisive for the prognosis. The clinically judged local tumor control was 100% for those patients who were observed during a period of more than one year after the radiotherapy. Lymph nodes which were also irradiated underwent an involution in all cases. Different differentiation degrees responded in the same way to radiotherapy. A dependence of rectal complications on the dose could be demonstrated. The results were not ameliorated by additional hormonal therapy.