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Role in Treating Cancer

Interstitial brachytherapy refers to the implantation of radioactive sources, usually in the form of needles, seeds or wires, directly into a tumour. It may be used as the sole form of radiotherapy, or may be combined with external radiation

Common Indications

The most common indication for interstitial brachytherapy is treatment for early stage prostate cancer (T1 or T2, Gleason score <7 and PSA <10). Some patients with Gleason 7 or PSA 10-20 as well as selected patients who develop local failure after external beam radiation are also appropriate for brachytherapy, under RTOG trial.

In prostate brachytherapy 80-130 tiny radioactive iodine seeds are permanently implanted in the prostate under transrectal ultrasound guidance.

Brachytherapy can also be used to treat penile cancer as an alternative to surgery.

Benefits

For prostate cancer, the benefit is that brachytherapy is the ultimate in high dose conformal radiation. The radiation treats only the prostate and a narrow margin of tissue around the prostate, similar to what would be removed by the surgeon at the time of radical prostatectomy. This minimizes side effects to other organs.

This page was last updated July 13th, 2010 at 2:11pm.