根据路透社健康新闻的报导指出，接受激素疗法加上放射线治疗的摄护腺癌组合治疗，可能会使患者阴茎的长度显著地减少。这项研究结果发表于1月号的Journal of Urology中。之前曾有逸事报告指出，接受放射线治疗可能减少阴茎的长度。
Ahmet Haliloglu 和安卡拉大学的研究同仁针对47名于土耳其接受治疗的摄护腺癌患者，于2000 年到2005 年进行追踪，这些患者每三个月接受了leuprolide 或goserelin注射治疗，一共接受三次剂量。患者在第7个月时接受70-Gy剂量的放射线治疗，并持续7 个星期的疗程。
在治疗开始之前，测量患者的平均阴茎长度为5.6 英寸。经过十八个月后，阴茎的平均长度显著缩短至3.4 英寸。而且患者的勃起功能，也因为治疗受到不良影响。患者中原本有百分之23可以正常勃起，但是经过十八个月的治疗后，只剩下百分之12.5的患者可正常地勃起。
研究人员认为，癌症治疗时患者的生活水平也是重要的考虑因素，所以在开始进行激素和放射线的组合治疗之前，医生应告知患者可能发生阴茎变短的副作用。
英文原文：
Prostate Cancer Treatment Affects Penile Length
Length of the penis is significantly reduced in patients who undergo radiation treatment along with hormone therapy for Prostate cancer.
This has been found by a study conducted by Dr Ahmet Haliloglu at the University of Ankara in Turkey. Forty seven patients who were suffering from local or locally advanced prostate cancer were taken for this study.
These patients were studied over a period of 5 years when they were receiving three doses of leuprolide or goserelin injections once in three months. Then they were given radiation therapy.
Their penises were measured before and after the treatment. The length of the penis was shortened by almost forty percent of the original. They suffered from erectile dysfunction.
The study is the first of its kind to report changes in the length of the penis after treatment of prostate cancer. He also feels that the patients should be fully informed before initiating the study for prostate cancer.
