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Prostate Radioactive Seed Implants

Prostate cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer in males today. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately one in every 10 males will develop prostate cancer by age 85. The Opler Cancer Center offers a treatment option for early stage prostate cancer called radioactive seed implants (brachytherapy). This technique of implanting radiation sources directly into the tumor allows the delivery of a highly concentrated, yet confined, dose of radiation directly into the prostate gland.

Treatment Process

The implant procedure is performed by a team of specially trained medical professionals including a urologist, radiation oncologist, radiation physicist, and ultrasound technologist.

Typically, the urologist will diagnose the disease, via a transrectal ultrasound directed biopsy. At that time, diagnostic staging and grading of the tumor will occur. The radiation oncologist will talk with the patients, and with the patient's consent, will schedule planning ultrasound (using ultrasound equipment specifically adapted for this procedure). When the ultrasound is performed, the treatment team is present. The prostate volume will be measured and information to determine the number of seeds needed for the procedure and their spacing will be obtained. The entire treatment plan will be determined, utilizing a computerized treatment planning system.

The patient is scheduled for the procedure approximately 10-14 days later, and under general anesthesia, will undergo transrectal ultrasound and placement of needles in the prostate gland. The seeds will then be arranged according to the treatment plan. The procedure takes approximately 45 minutes to an hour. The patient will usually be discharged the same day and seen post-surgery by both the radiation oncologist and the urologist.

Advantages

Interstitial implantation with both the Iodine and Palladium seeds offer an alternative in the treatment of Stage A and Stage B prostate tumors, when compared to radical prostatectomy and external beam irradiation. Both treatments offer several advantages in treating early localized prostatic carcinoma, particularly in those cases where the patient's retention of sexual and urinary function is a prime concern. Local tumor control within the prostate gland is thought to be comparable to that achieved by the other curative modalities.