[Complications following external radiotherapy of prostate cancer. Case reports and overview of the literature].

Complications after definitive radiotherapy of prostatic cancer occur in 3 to 30% of cases. Most common is radiation injury of the urethra, the bladder or the rectum. Definitive radiation therapy of carcinoma of the prostata after staging lymphadenectomy has a considerable risk of lymphedema of the lower extremities. Two typical cases are used to illustrate the permanent damage done to the quality of life of the particular patient. The complication rate is decreased if only the prostate is irradiated without radiation of the regional lymphnodes. Interstitial radiation therapy using 125-Iodine-seeds yields comparable results with a tenfold decrease in the complication rate.