European collaborative group on prostate brachytherapy: preliminary report in 1175 patients.
OBJECTIVE
To establish a multi-centre database of a large number of patients treated with brachytherapy across Europe.


METHODS
A total of 1175 patient files were registered in the database and the completeness of the data on these patients resulted in the majority being included in the analysis.


RESULTS
The database of patients treated with brachytherapy across Europe indicates that optimal patient selection for this procedure has been made, both in terms of outcome and side-effects, which will be subject of future analyses. This should enable refinement of the treatment choice and administration as well as provide useful guidance to other centres that want to establish this procedure for their patients. It will also set the ground for prospective studies.


CONCLUSIONS
The established database indicates that brachytherapy as a treatment option for prostate cancer is well established in many centres.
Department of Urology, St Luke's Cancer Centre, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Stirling Road, Guildford, Surrey GU2 5XX, UK. stephen.langley@dial.pipex.com
S
S
Langley
R
R
Laing
A
A
Henderson
S
S
Aaltomaa
V
V
Kataja
J-E
JE
Palmgren
F
F
Bladou
N
N
Salem
G
G
Serment
L
L
Nava
A
A
Losa
G
G
Guazzoni
F
F
Guedea
F
F
Aguilo
J F
JF
Suarez
D000368:Aged; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000379:methods*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018579:Patient Selection; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen