In prostate brachytherapy, permanent radioactive seed implants are placed in the patient. This is a low dose rate interstitial brachytherapy.
What are I-125 seeds?
Seeds for prostate brachytherapy use the isotope Iodine-125. They are small 1mm x 5mm seeds that are inserted into the patient’s prostate where they can remain forever as they lose radioactivity.
In what type of prostate tumors is this type of brachytherapy useful?
The permanent seeds are a mono-treatment in cases of prostate tumors with a high probability of being limited to the prostate, and it is not necessary to combine it with external radiotherapy or hormone therapy.
These permanent implants are ideal in these cases because they are applied by the specialist in Radiation Oncology in the day hospital, that is, on an outpatient basis, and the patient goes home a few hours after surgery.
What are the benefits of brachytherapy with I-125 seeds?
Prostate brachytherapy with I-125 seeds improves not only the patient’s health but also his quality of life. The radioactive sources are focused and irradiated almost 100% in the area to be treated, reducing side effects to a minimum.
This means greater wellbeing for the patient but also greater efficacy when it comes to acting on the prostate. In addition to reducing the risk and side effects, it also reduces the possibility of urinary incontinence and other disorders that can occur with other treatments.