RAPID Strand
OncoSeed
Prospera
BrachyBase

Prostate Brachytherapy is a form of radiotherapy treatment that involves inserting tiny radioactive capsules or 'seeds', about the size of a grain of rice, into the prostate gland. The radiation is targeted directly at the prostate gland and minimises the effects on the surrounding healthy tissues. It is a simple procedure that can be performed under anaesthetic in less than an hour. It may be done as a day case or in some cases involve an overnight stay in hospital. Patients recover quickly and may soon return to their normal activities.

How is prostate brachytherapy performed?
The number of seeds implanted and their precise positioning is tailored to each patient and determined by measurement of the volume of the patient's prostate gland by an ultrasound scan. By means of a sophisticated computer programme, the number of seeds and their position are calculated to cover the prostate gland volume with the exact radiation dose required to treat the tumour. The seeds are implanted using fine hollow needles which are pushed through the skin behind the scrotum and in front of the anus (an area called the perineum). Depending on prostate volume, between 60 and 120 seeds are passed through the needles, either individually, or as strands of several seeds linked together. Implantation is guided under direct ultrasound visualisation to ensure precise seed positioning. When the seeds are in the correct place the needles are withdrawn, leaving the seeds behind. The seeds remain in the prostate, slowly treating the tumour over time until they are no longer radioactive.

Brachytherapy has been shown to be an effective treatment with less chance of troubling side effects such as impotence and incontinence when compared to other common treatment options for localised prostate cancer. ^1,2,3

1. Kupelian PA, Potters L, Khuntia D. Radical prostatectomy, external beam radiotherapy < 72 Gy, external beam radiotherapy > or -72 Gy, permanent seed implantation, or combined seeds/external beam radiotherapy for stage T1-T2 prostate cancer. Int J Radlat Oncol Biol Phys. 2004 Jan 1;58 (1):25-33
2. Stone NN, Stock RG. Long-term urinary, sexual, and rectal morbidity in patients treated with Iodine-125 prostate brachytherapy followed up for a minimum of 5 years. Urology. 2007 Feb;69(2):338-42
3. Frank SJ, Pisters LL, Davis J, Lee AK, Basset R, Kuban DA. An assessment of quality of life following radical prostatectomy, high dose external beam radiation therapy and brachytherapy Iodine implantation as monotherapies for localized prostate cancer. J Urol. 2007 Jun;177(6):2151-6

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