Brachyterapy in localized prostate cancer

Introduction and objectivesConsidering the high frequency of localized prostate cancer in stages, at the moment there are minimally invasive techniques that compete with the classic surgery. One of them is the Low Dose Rate (LDR) Brachytherapy with permanent implants of I125 seeds.The objective of the present study is to expose our experience from the year 1998, when we made the first treatment, until today. The results and the morbidity of the patients over a 7 and a half years period are analyzed.Material and methodsA total of 800 patients were treated with LDR brachytherapy, with average age of 68 years and range between 48 and 83 years. In all patients the I125 seeds were used with Rapid-Strand and peripheral load by means of intraoperative planning.ResultsThe urinary rate of complications was of 3% of AUR, and 0.2% of urinary incontinence. The morbidity on the digestive apparatus was of a 12% intermittent bleeding, 2% of proctitis, and a 0.3% of rectal fistulas