title: Dawn of prostate brachytherapy: 1915-1930.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the origins of prostate brachytherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A review of contemporary journals and texts was conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prostate brachytherapy was performed frequently by leading urologists before 1930. Both temporary and permanent implant techniques were developed using radium and radon through intracavitary and interstitial approaches. Transperineal implantation of permanent sources was first performed 80 years ago.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prostate brachytherapy has its origins in the early part of the last century.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology and Urology, Upstate Medical University, State University of New York, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA. aronowij@upstate.edu
authors.forename: Jesse N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Aronowitz
mesh_terms: D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000266:history* / Q000379:methods; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009717:Numismatics / Q000266:history; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000266:history; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000266:history* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D014481:United States