[Value of radiotherapy in the treatment of prostatic cancers in the initial stages. Apropos of 111 cases].

The authors report on their experience with high energy radiation therapy in early-stage (I/II) carcinomas of the prostate. Among 191 cases of biopsy-proved carcinomas of the prostate, there were 111 stage I and II tumors, including 83 T1, T2 intracapsular tumors. 78 of the 111 patients received curative radiation therapy. Delivered doses did not exceed 65 to 70 grays to the prostate and 50 grays to the pelvis. High energy radiation was used. Extension of the lesions was determined using lymphography, abdominal and pelvic CT, and surgical removal of lymph nodes. Among the 78 irradiated patients, success rates at five years were 65% for the 52 T1-T2 tumors and 38% for the 26 T3 N0 tumors. Selection of patients, technical conditions and long term results are discussed, as well as the problems met in determining the stage of the tumor accurately. High energy radiation therapy can control localized carcinomas with a satisfactory quality of survival.