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Sandy Srinivas, MD
Sandy Srinivas, MD
Posted: Monday, January 8, 2024
Study results published in Academic Radiology describe an independent association between prostatic urethral length and increased risk of late genitourinary toxicity (grade 2 or higher) after radiation therapy for prostate cancer, notably urinary frequency and urgency symptoms. Kiran R. Nandalur, MD, of Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan, and colleagues sought to examine various MRI-derived data—quantitative urethra, prostate, and bladder measurements—to see which might help predict postradiotherapy toxicity. Prostatic urethral length alone was found to be significantly linked to late toxicity of grade 2 or higher.
“We believe this particular area is more exposed to the radiation doses patients receive, resulting in direct inflammation,” commented Dr. Nandalur in a Corewell Health press release. “Our novel MRI metric may help patients know beforehand what their risk is in developing these symptoms and help them make better and more informed decisions on a course of treatment that optimizes quality of life.”
The single-institution retrospective cohort study included data on 361 men (median age, 68 years) with prostate adenocarcinoma who underwent MRI within 6 months before completing definitive radiotherapy. Median follow-up for late toxicity was 15 months, and approximately 88.7% and 72.0% of patients were free of toxicity at 1 and 3 years, respectively. About 14% of men experienced acute genitourinary toxicity at grade 2 or higher.
The study findings suggest that for every 1-cm increase in the length of the prostatic urethra, patients were about 60% more likely to experience issues such increased urinary urgency and frequency. Furthermore, patients with a prostatic urethra length greater than 4.6 cm were nearly twice as likely to develop these symptoms, according to the study authors.
Disclosure: The study authors reported no conflicts of interest.
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