Effect of Radiation on Male Stress Urinary Incontinence and the Role of Urodynamic Assessment.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of radiation on male stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and to assess the relative value of preoperative urodynamic (UDS) testing in radiated vs nonradiated men with SUI.
Methods: A retrospective chart review of all male patients with SUI who underwent UDS testing from 2010 to 2016 was performed. The impact of UDS findings on treatment decision making was assessed. UDS parameters and treatment patterns of radiated vs nonradiated patients were compared as well as the fates of storage symptoms in each group.
Results: Two hundred seven men were identified that underwent UDS with a clinical diagnosis of SUI. Sixty-five out of 207 (31.4%) were exposed to radiation as a treatment modality for prostate cancer. All patients that underwent UDS testing moved on to surgical correction of SUI, and the UDS findings did not alter plan to treat SUI in any patients. Men who were radiated prior to surgical correction of SUI were more likely to have detrusor overactivity (70% vs 38%, P <.0001) and had lower maximum cystometric capacity (255 vs 307.4 mL, P = .01) when compared to nonradiated on UDS. After artificial urinary sphincter or sling implantation, the proportion of patients requiring overactive bladder medications was higher in radiated vs nonradiated men (44.3% vs 25.3%; P = .01).
Conclusion: Radiation therapy appears to increase the likelihood of bladder dysfunction in male patients with SUI. The UDS findings did not alter the plan to treat SUI in any patients in our series, and its role before SUI surgery in male patients, including those receiving radiation, may be limited.
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