Boris Delaunay

Ejaculatory function after permanent 125I prostate brachytherapy for localized prostate cancer.

PURPOSE Ejaculatory function is an underreported aspect of male sexuality in men treated for prostate cancer. We conducted the first detailed analysis of ejaculatory function in patients treated with permanent (125)I prostate brachytherapy for localized prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Of 270 sexually active men with localized prostate cancer treated with permanent (125)I prostate brachytherapy, 241 (89%), with a mean age of 65 years (range, 43-80), responded to a mailed questionnaire derived from the Male Sexual Health Questionnaire regarding ejaculatory function. Five aspects of ejaculatory function were examined: frequency, volume, dry ejaculation, pleasure, and pain. RESULTS Of the 241 sexually active men, 81.3% had conserved ejaculatory function after prostate brachytherapy; however, the number of patients with rare/absent ejaculatory function was double the pretreatment number (p < .0001). The latter finding was correlated with age (p < .001) and the preimplant International Index of Erectile Function score (p < .001). However, 84.9% of patients with maintained ejaculatory function after implantation reported a reduced volume of ejaculate compared with 26.9% before (p < .001), with dry ejaculation accounting for 18.7% of these cases. After treatment, 30.3% of the patients experienced painful ejaculation compared with 12.9% before (p = .0001), and this was associated with a greater number of implanted needles (p = .021) and the existence of painful ejaculation before implantation (p < .0001). After implantation, 10% of patients who continued to be sexually active experienced no orgasm compared with only 1% before treatment. in addition, more patients experienced late/difficult or weak orgasms (p = .001). CONCLUSION Most men treated with brachytherapy have conserved ejaculatory function after prostate brachytherapy. However, most of these men experience a reduction in volume and a deterioration in orgasm.

Brachytherapy for penile cancer: Efficacy and impact on sexual function

PURPOSE Penis brachytherapy (PB) remains an alternative in the cancer treatment. The objective of this study was to assess the oncologic outcomes, sexual function, and the sexual behavior of men treated by PB for a cancer of the penis. METHODS AND MATERIALS Between 1992 and 2009, 47 patients with a cancer of the penis were treated by PB ((192)Ir), in the Toulouse, Montpellier, and Barcelona cancer centers. The investigation into their sexuality was obtained by means of questionnaire. A total of 21 French patients were approached, of whom 19 (mean age=73.2 years) agreed to answer the questionnaire (participation rate=90.5%). RESULTS Oncologic data: The specific survival and the disease-free survival at 5 years was 87.6% (95% confidence interval, 72.4-94.7%) and 84% (95% confidence interval, 57.6-94.7%), respectively. The rate of preservation of the penis was 66% (n=31). Sexual data: Among the 17 patients sexually active before brachytherapy, 10 patients remained sexually active after treatment (58.8%). Of the 18 patients who had erections before PB, 17 still had them after treatment (94.4%). Age was the main predictive factor. CONCLUSION The PB seems to have a moderated impact on the sexual functions and the sexual behavior of the patients.

Orgasme après curiethérapie de prostate par implants permanents d’iode 125 pour cancer localisé de la prostate

OBJECTIVES Orgasm is a domain of male sexuality that remains underreported in literature. Our aim was to realize the first detailed analysis of orgasm in patients treated by 125 I permanent prostate brachytherapy for localized prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS In a series of 270 sexually active men treated by prostate brachytherapy (125I permanent implantation), 241 (89%), mean age of 65 (43-80), participated in a mailed survey about sexual function after a mean time of 36 months (9-70). Erectile and ejaculatory functions and orgasm were explored using a mailed questionnaire. Two questions focused on orgasm. The first was about quality of orgasm (fast/intense/late, difficult/weak/absent) and the second about the presence of painful orgasm and its frequency (always/sometimes/often). RESULTS After prostate brachytherapy, 81.3% of sexually active men conserved ejaculation and 90% orgasm. There was a significant deterioration of the quality of orgasm (P=0.0001). More than 50% of the patients had an altered orgasm (weak, difficult, absent) after brachytherapy, vs 16% before implantation (P=0.001). Men with a diminished ejaculation volume often had a weak/difficult orgasm (P=0.007). Neoadjuvant hormonal therapy did not seem to impact the quality of orgasm or the frequency of painful ejaculation. Patients who had an IIEF-5 score higher than 12 had frequently intense orgasm (26.7% vs 2.7%; P<0.001) after brachytherapy. Sixty patients (30.3%) experienced often/sometimes painful ejaculation 12.9% (n=31) before implantation (P=0.0001). CONCLUSION Most of the patients treated by prostate brachytherapy conserved orgasm after treatment. However, most of the patients described a deterioration of the quality of orgasm.

Retroperitoneoscopic Adrenalectomy: Comparison of Retrograde and Antegrade Approach Among a Series of 279 Cases

OBJECTIVE To compare the results of retroperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy using the antegrade and retrograde approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS We performed an analysis of a single-center series of 279 retroperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomies from 1996 to 2010. We compared 172 cases performed with an antegrade approach and 107 with a retrograde approach without dissection of the renal hilum and initial control of the adrenal vein in comparable populations. RESULTS The operative time was shorter in the group treated with the retrograde technique, 101±51 vs 140±40 minutes, respectively (Students t test, P<.001). Blood loss was similar in both groups, 85±224 vs 80±126 mL, respectively (P=NS). Hemodynamic instability was defined as the maximal systolic blood pressure minus the minimal systolic blood pressure divided the maximal systolic blood pressure. It was lower in the group who underwent the retrograde technique (32.7 vs 37.6 mL; Students t test, P=.005) with a lower perioperative consumption of ephedrine (2.2 vs 5.1 mg, P=.004) and atropine (0.09 vs 0.22 mg, P=.026). No difference was found between the 2 groups in the frequency of perioperative complications or postoperative mortality (1 death in each group of causes unrelated to the surgery). CONCLUSION Retroperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy using a retrograde approach is a safe and reproducible technique. It makes it possible to perform adrenalectomy without dissection of the renal hilum, with a reduction in the operative time. The good hemodynamic stability observed with this technique makes it very attractive for the treatment of pheochromocytoma.

Fertilité après curiethérapie par implants permanents d'Iode 125 pour cancer localisé de la prostate

OBJECTIVES Preservation of fertility in men of middle age is an issue that is experiencing a growing interest. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men and is diagnosed earlier than before. Brachytherapy is a treatment for prostate cancer that preserves ejaculation. Our aim was to study the fertility of men treated with prostate brachytherapy in order to improve patient information. PATIENTS AND METHODS In a series of 270 sexually active men with localized prostate cancer treated with brachytherapy (permanent implants of Iode 125) at the Institute Claudius Regaud between 2000 and 2006, mean age 65 years (43-80), four patients spontaneously expressed their interest in the preservation of fertility and had an andrological evaluation. RESULTS Four patients were aged 43, 48, 57 and 61 years, all working (including two businessmen), their partner was aged respectively 42, 37, 47 and 38 years. All four had a post-treatment semen analysis (done over a year after brachytherapy) rich in spermatozoa, with moderate asthenospermia, the main anomaly being severe hypospermia. These spermiograms were nonetheless consistent with the occurrence of spontaneous pregnancy (occurrence of miscarriage in the patient 1). CONCLUSION There is an interest in applying to men with prostate cancer their position on fertility in order to inform them about the morbidity of various treatments, options for fertility preservation, and the need to continue a contraception after brachytherapy if the partner is not menopausal.