Prostate Cancer Seed Implants

Prostate cancer surgery seed implants are used to place radioactive “seeds” into the prostate to kill the cancerous prostate cells. Urology specialists, work with radiation oncologists to plan and perform the seed implant surgery. Prostate “seeds” are very small pieces of temporarily radioactive material that are slide into the prostate via a very thin hollow tube. The seeds are titanium cylinders that are 4.5 millimeters long and 0.8 millimeters wide. Inside the titanium canister are 5 silver spheres that have absorbed I-125 iodine. Another type of seed uses Pd-103 Palladium which has a shorter radioactive half-life.  The radioactive half-life of I-125 iodine seeds is 60 days and the half-life of Pd-103 palladium seeds is 17 days.

Prostate cancer surgery seed implants work best on men with a prostate that is not enlarged, the cancer is located inside the prostate capsule and has not left the prostate, and they do not have urinary retention due to prostate enlargement, and the prostate does not extend into the bladder. A few weeks prior to the prostate cancer surgery seed implant procedure a digital ultrasound study is performed to measure and obtain images of the prostate which is called a prostate volume study. The images are the placed into a software program that recreates a 3D model of the prostate. Dosimetrists create a computerized pre-plan of where the seeds need to be placed in order to evenly radiate the prostate while minimizing the radiation into other tissues in the area. Verifying the plan are the physicists and the radiation oncologist.

The day prior to the seeding implant the patient stops eating and drinking because anesthesia will be used in the surgery and an enema is needed so that the ultrasound image during the seeding is clear. Prior to the surgery you will be given anesthesia and you will lay on your back with your legs in stirrups. Once you are positioned both x-ray (fluoroscopy) and ultrasound imaging will be used to visualize the seeds as they are placed in the prostate. The radiation oncologist and our urology specialist will place thin hollow needles into the prostate and then slide the seeds through them into the correct position in the prostate. There can be anywhere from 75 to 125 seeds placed into the prostate, which are permanent. Once the seeds are implanted our urologist will perform a cystoscopy to look into the urethra and bladder and remove any seeds that may have gone there. A catheter is placed into the bladder and will be removed once our urologist determines that you are urinating normally. Most men go home the same day; however other medical conditions may require a stay in the hospital overnight.

Prostate cancer surgery seed implants are minimally invasive and have excellent success rates in stopping prostate cancer. Men should not hold babies or children on their lap for 60 days due to the radiation and keep 6 feet away from pregnant women.

<< Prostate Cancer Surgery Cryosurgery | Prostate Cancer Surgery Adjunct Therapies >>