Urinary Incontinence in Patients Who Have a TURP/TUIP Following Prostate Brachytherapy

Abstract

Purpose: To determine urinary morbidity in patients who have transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) after 125I brachytherapy. Materials and Methods: A total of 109 patients with Stage T1–T2 prostatic carcinoma were treated with 125I implantation from 1991 through 1995. Ten patients underwent TURP/transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP) after brachytherapy to relieve urinary obstruction refractory to nonsurgical management. Results: Patients who developed refractory urinary retention had a slightly larger preimplant prostate volume than those who did not (62 vs. 54 ml; p = 0.16). Seven of the 10 patients developed some degree of permanent urinary incontinence following TURP/TUIP. Urinary incontinence was mild in three patients [Late Effects Normal Tissue Radiation Oncology Group (LENT) score = 1] and severe in four additional patients (LENT score = 3). There was no obvious relationship between the degree of incontinence and use of TURP vs. TUIP, amount of tissue resected, or time between brachytherapy and TURP/TUIP. In five patients for whom detailed urethral radiation dose information was available, the doses were higher than generally recommended. Conclusion: Permanent urinary incontinence is common in patients who require a TURP or TUIP after prostate brachytherapy. Its cause is apparently multifactorial and may include the degree of physical damage to the urinary sphincters and the radiation dose to the urethral region.