Intraurethral brachytherapy for prevention of recurrent urethral stricture after internal urethrotomy or transurethral resection of scar.
OBJECTIVE
Restricture after internal urethrotomy is the major limitation to the long-term success of the procedure. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of intraurethral brachytherapy after internal urethrotomy or transurethral scar resection on recurrent urethral stricture.


METHODS
From January 1998 to June 1999, catheter-based intraurethral brachytherapy with 192-iridium was performed in 17 patients with recurrent urethral stricture to prevent restricture after internal urethrotomy or transurethral resection of scar. The radiation was repeated within 3 days after surgery to reach a total dosage of 1000 to 1500 cGy.


RESULTS
During the follow-up (range 14-27 months; mean 20 months), two patients had dysuria, including one patient with an atonic detrusor muscle. The other patient needed self-dilation. Fifteen patients presented normal voiding. The stricture recurred 3 months later in only one patient, so the restricture rate is 7%. No significant complication was observed associated with brachytherapy during the follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Intraurethral brachytherapy after internal urethrotomy or transurethral resection of scar is a safe and effective treatment for recurrent urethral strictures.
Sun
Y H
YH
Department of Urology, Changhai Hospital, the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China. sunyinh@online.shicn
Xu
C L
CL
Gao
X
X
Jin
Y N
YN
Wang
L H
LH
Liao
G Q
GQ
Wang
Z F
ZF
Hou
J G
JG
Qian
S X
SX
Yong-Jiang
M A
MA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001918:Brachytherapy; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000532:radiotherapy; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D014521:Urethra / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014522:Urethral Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D014524:Urethral Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*