Table 3.
Characteristics of patients who experienced late grade 2+ rectal bleeding versus those who did not
| Variable | GR2+ RB (n = 32) |
No RB (n = 160) |
|---|---|---|
| n (%) or median (range) | n (%) or median (range) | |
| Age, y | 69 (55-86) | 69 (51-83) |
| Ultrasound-based prostate volume, cm3 | 42.0 (12.0-77.6) | 40.0 (12.0-100.4) |
| Medication use | ||
| Aspirin | 15 (46.9) | 59 (36.9) |
| Anticoagulation | 8 (25.0) | 14 (8.8) |
| Alpha blocker | 11 (34.4) | 26 (16.3) |
| Risk category | ||
| Low | 8 (25.0) | 30 (18.8) |
| Intermediate | 16 (50) | 88 (55.0) |
| High | 8 (25) | 42 (26.2) |
| Baseline EPIC score | 98.2 (62.5-100) | 96.4 (60.7-100) |
| Comorbidities | ||
| Diabetes | 1 (3.1) | 18 (11.3) |
| Hypertension | 18 (56.3) | 78 (48.8) |
| Hemorrhoids | 2 (6.3) | 24 (15.0) |
| Androgen deprivation therapy | 10 (31.3) | 61 (38.1) |
| Pencil beam scanning (vs uniform scanning) | 22 (68.8) | 122 (76.3) |
| Number of fields treated/day | ||
| 1 | 15 (46.9) | 77 (48.1) |
| 2 | 17 (53.1) | 83 (51.9) |
| Seminal vesicle radiation | 24 (75.0) | 130 (81.3) |
| Whole pelvis radiation | 1 (3.1) | 18 (11.3) |
Abbreviations: EPIC = Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite; GR = grade; RB = rectal bleeding.