Commentary on increased risk of biochemical and local failure in patients with a distended rectum on the planning CT for prostate cancer radiotherapy

Abstract

In this issue of the Red Journal, Dr. De Crevoisier and associates provide clinical evidence that patients who have a distended rectum at the time of simulation have a greater risk of biochemical (prostate-specific antigen) failure and a lower risk of rectal morbidity (1). Said another way, they have shown that systematic treatment planning errors are associated with a worse outcome. In their study, the impact of rectal distension on biochemical failure was more predictive of outcome than the prognostic risk group of a patient.