[Irradiation of the breast glands as prophylactic treatment of an estrogen-induced gynecomastia in patients with prostate carcinomas (author's transl)].

One hundred and four patients with histologically demonstrated prostate carcinomas were submitted to a bilateral orchiectomy. Before the beginning of a hormone therapy, both breast glands were irradiated prophylactically. The patients were observed between two and thirty months. The radiotherapy was executed with electrons with an energy of 10 to 12 MeV and by a stationary field which had a size of 10 X 10 cm. A total surface dose of 12,0 Gy was applicated in four single doses of 3,0 Gy each. The symptom-less healing of 45% of the pateints and the rate of only 29% of patients with gynecomastia is considered to be a good result. In view of the success achieved by the hormone therapy, subjective complaints such as hyperesthesia, pains and pruritus are regarded to be less important.