Urinary organs-at-risk for prostate cancer external beam radiotherapy: contouring guidelines on behalf of the Francophone Group of Urological Radiation Therapy (GFRU).

PURPOSE: Occurrence of genitourinary (GU) toxicity is a common adverse event observed after external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for prostate cancer (PCa). Recent findings suggest that the dose delivered to specific urinary organs-at-risk (OARs) such as ureters, bladder trigone, and urethra is involved in the development of GU toxicity. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A multidisciplinary task force including three radiation oncologists, a uroradiologist, and a urologist was created in 2022. First, OARs potentially involved in GU toxicity were identified and discussed. A literature review was performed, addressing several questions relative to urinary OARs: anatomical and radiological definition, radiation-induced injury, dose-volume parameters. Secondly, results were presented and discussed with a panel of radiation oncologists, members of the "Francophone Group of Urological Radiation Therapy" (GFRU). Thereafter, GFRU experts were asked to answer a dedicated questionnaire, including 35 questions on the controversial issues related to the delineation of urinary OARs. RESULTS: The following structures were identified as critical for PCa EBRT: ureters, bladder, bladder neck, bladder trigone, urethra (intraprostatic, membranous, spongious), striated sphincter, and post-enucleation or post-transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) cavity. A consensus was obtained for 32 out of 35 items. CONCLUSION: This consensus highlights contemporary urinary structures in both upper and lower urinary tract to be considered for EBRT treatment planning of PCa. The current recommendations also propose a standardized definition of urinary OARs, for both daily practice and future clinical trials.

Pain intensity and imaging at the initial phase of acute pyelonephritis.

OBJECTIVE: To identify predictive factors of urological complication on imaging findings in women with pyelonephritis aged 18 to 65 years. METHODS: We performed an observational, retrospective, single-center study. The medical charts of women diagnosed with pyelonephritis at the emergency department from 2010 to 2015 were reviewed. Only patients who underwent an imaging study at the emergency department and with microbiologically confirmed pyelonephritis were included for analysis. The primary endpoint was the presence of urological complications on imaging findings. The secondary endpoint was treatment changes after imaging diagnosis. RESULTS: Of the 193 women enrolled, 88 (45.6%) had urological complication(s) on imaging findings. The multivariate analysis revealed that history of urolithiasis (OR=2.41; P=0.01) and pain requiring morphine use (OR=5.29; P=0.009) were predictive of urological complications on imaging findings. Of the 120 women with uncomplicated pyelonephritis who underwent imaging studies, 45% had urological complication, resulting in a treatment change in 36.7% of patients. The multivariate analysis revealed that age>40 years (OR=4.58; P=0.02) and pain requiring morphine use (OR=3.78; P=0.02) were predictive of urological complication(s) on imaging findings and of treatment change based on imaging findings (OR=6.76; P=0.005 and OR=4.19; P=0.01 respectively) in this subgroup. CONCLUSIONS: Pain requiring morphine use, age, and history of urolithiasis are independent predictors of urological complications on imaging findings in patients with acute pyelonephritis.

Salvage reirradiation for local prostate cancer recurrence after radiation therapy. For who? When? How?

PURPOSE: Literature review reporting results of salvage brachytherapy and stereotactic body radiotherapy for prostate recurrence only after radiotherapy for prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 38 studies (including at least 15 patients per study) were analysed: 19 using low-dose-rate brachytherapy, nine high-dose-rate brachytherapy and ten stereotactic body radiotherapy. Only five studies were prospective. The median numbers of patients were 30 for low-dose-rate brachytherapy, 34 for high-dose-rate brachytherapy, and 30 for stereotactic body radiotherapy. The median follow-up were 47months for low-dose-rate brachytherapy, 36months for high-dose-rate brachytherapy and 21months for stereotactic body radiotherapy. RESULTS: Late genitourinary toxicity rates ranged, for grade 2: from 4 to 42% for low-dose-rate brachytherapy, from 7 to 54% for high-dose-rate brachytherapy and from 3 to 20% for stereotactic body radiotherapy, and for grade 3 or above: from 0 to 24% for low-dose-rate brachytherapy, from 0 to 13% for high-dose-rate brachytherapy and from 0 to 3% for grade 3 or above (except 12% in one study) for stereotactic body radiotherapy. Late gastrointestinal toxicity rates ranged, for grade 2: from 0 to 6% for low-dose-rate brachytherapy, from 0 to 14% for high-dose-rate brachytherapy and from 0 to 11% for stereotactic body radiotherapy, and for grade 3 or above: from 0 to 6% for low-dose-rate brachytherapy, and from 0 to 1% for high-dose-rate brachytherapy and stereotactic body radiotherapy. The 5-year biochemical disease-free survival rates ranged from 20 to 77% for low-dose-rate brachytherapy and from 51 to 68% for high-dose-rate brachytherapy. The 2- and 3-year disease-free survival rates ranged from 40 to 82% for stereotactic body radiotherapy. Prognostic factors of biochemical recurrence have been identified. CONCLUSION: Despite a lack of prospective data, salvage reirradiation for prostate cancer recurrence can be proposed to highly selected patients and tumours. Prospective comparative studies are needed.