Prostate Brachytherapy

Target-Oriented Effective Irradiation

Brachytherapy, one of the most important weapons of radiation oncology, can also be used in the treatment of prostate cancer. Radiotherapy, which is used in patients who are not suitable for surgery in organ-limited stages of prostate cancer, becomes more effective with the addition of brachytherapy to selected patients. Like external irradiation, the tumor is effectively destroyed with minimal side effects with brachytherapy. With prostate brachytherapy, cancerous tissue in the prostate is irradiated from within the prostate, not from the outside. This allows targeting the tumor from close range, with high dosage and without damaging surrounding tissues, leading to successful results.


 

4-d Prostate Brachytherapy

Liv Hospital Radiation Oncology Clinic offers high-dose rapid prostate brachytherapy with real-time imaging. Patients with prostate cancer undergo real-time transrectal ultrasound-guided HDR (high dose) prostate brachytherapy. Brachytherapy may be used in addition to IG-IMRT, an external irradiation method, especially in selected patients who are suitable for this treatment.

 

What is High-Dose Rapid Prostate Brachytherapy with 4-Dimensional Real-Time Imaging?

4-dimensional prostate brachytherapy method is performed using plastic needles inserted from the skin into the prostate tissue through transrectal ultrasound. Since the entire procedure is performed with simultaneous high-resolution ultrasound guidance in the prostate, it provides a highly effective treatment plan and the ability to perform this treatment with high accuracy. In light of real-time images of the prostate and other normal tissues, the most effective and least side-effect treatment is planned and implemented. The procedure is performed under general or spinal anesthesia for approximately 2 hours, and is concluded by removing the needles. The patient is then invited for external irradiation or second prostate brachytherapy to begin one week later.

 

What are the Advantages of Prostate Brachytherapy?

• Total radiotherapy time decreases.
• Treatment efficiency increases.
• May reduce hormone therapy duration.
• Reducees damage to surrounding organs and tissues.
• Has less side effects.
• The incidence of incontinence/urinary stenosis is extremely low.
• It is usually performed in a single session and the risk of bleeding is negligible.

 

To Whom can it be Applied?

In addition to external treatment (IG-IMRT) in moderate and high-risk prostate cancer patients,
As focal radiotherapy in patients who had previously received radiotherapy but has recurrence,
It can be used alone in low risk patients who are not suitable for the selected operation.
 

What are the Advantages of 4-D High Dose Prostate Brachytherapy Over Permanent Seed Brachytherapy?

The patient can return to daily life since there will be no remaining radioactive sources inside the patient.
The guidance of real-time imaging throughout the procedure increases the precision.
Since there are no radioactive sources left in the patient, there is no possibility for these sources to relocate.