Treatment of radiation-induced damage to pelvic organs following radiation therapy of early-stage prostate cancer (literature review)

The paper reviews literature data on factors that influence the development of late radiation-induced adverse effects and modalities used for treatment of injuries to pelvic organs resulted from radiotherapy of early-stage prostate cancer. Radiation induces development of local and general complications. Effectiveness of conservative treatment techniques and surgical interventions for management of the injuries is discussed in the paper. The use of complex medical treatment allows achievement of complete symptoms control or complete remission of the disease, thereby improvement of patients' quality of life and social activity. Evidence suggests that early and adequate treatment results in a better outcome and prevents the development of severe complications, such as urethral stricture, colon stenosis, profuse bleeding, fistula formation. Though application of new treatment strategies gives patients with radiation-induced injuries improve significantly outcome, management of late radiation damage to the pelvic organs is still a complex problem. Further study of mechanisms of development of late radiation effects, clinical research into new approaches to both mitigation and treatment of radiation-induced injuries could result in new more effective treatment modalities, which would allow improvement in survival and quality of life for radiotherapy patients.