Quality of life following high‐intensity focused ultrasound for the treatment of localized prostate cancer: A prospective study

Abstract

To report our health-related quality of life (QOL) and functional outcomes following high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for localized prostate cancer. Data from prostate cancer patients undergoing HIFU at our institution between January 1999 and April 2007 were collected in our prospective database. Standard preoperative and surgical parameters, as well as baseline urinary function, QOL and sexual assessment were included. The Japanese version of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-general (FACT-G), the FACT-prostate (P) and the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) were used for the functional assessment. These self-administered questionnaires were collected preoperatively and again at 6, 12 and 24 months postoperatively. A total of 326 patients were included in the analysis. Maximum flow rate and residual urine volume were significantly impaired at 6 months (P = 0.010) after HIFU, even if they returned to baseline values at 12 or 24 months after HIFU. The total FACT-G score significantly improved at 24 months (P = 0.027) after HIFU. At 6, 12 and 24 months after HIFU, 52%, 63% and 78%, respectively, of the patients, not receiving neoadjuvant hormonal therapy, were potent. In our experience, functional and QOL outcomes after HIFU therapy for localized prostate cancer are better than those after other treatment modalities.