Purpose: The management of prostate adenocarcinomas using postoperative irradiation is a controversial question. The purpose of this study was to review the literature on the subject.
Material and methods: A total of 417 articles dealing with postoperative radiotherapy after radical prostatectomy in English literature (1990-2002) were reviewed in aspects of effect on survival, time of irradiation, risk factors, dose and technique and side effects.
Results and discussion: No randomised studies have been performed and therefore no definitive conclusive data can be made concerning the efficiency of the concept. However, postoperative radiotherapy appears to increase local control preferably in pT3/4 prostatic carcinomas with seminal vesicles involvement and/or positive margins and/or high Gleason score and high postoperative PSA level. It has not been shown to improve survival. Severe side effects are reported in a low frequency. However, postoperative irradiation can cause severe side effects and postoperative adjuvant/salvage treatments should be delivered earliest 3-6 months after surgery and the total dose delivered to the prostate bed should be 65-70 Gy. Postoperative radiotherapy induces improved local control in patients with positive surgical margins and in patients with a local relapse, preferably if the tumour is small (i.e. PSA <1-2 ng/mL).