[Brachytherapy for prostate cancer].
This review article aims to overview modern prostate brachytherapy in Japan. Permanent transperineal prostate brachytherapy with I-125 started in September, 2003 in Japan. Brachytherapy has several advantages: the dose is adapted precisely to the tumor shape and size, and the long-lived isotope gives a higher tumor dose with less damage to normal tissue; less-time consuming for patients and staff: long-term results comparable to surgery or external beam series in the USA; and quality of life after brachytherapy also appealing. These advantages have brought about increasing use in Japan as well. Patients with a high probability of organ-confined disease and a low-risk group are appropriately treated with brachytherapy. Brachytherapy candidates with a significant risk of extraprostatic extension should be treated with supplemental external beam radiation therapy. High-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy with Ir-192 has preceded seed implants in Japan. HDR has some theoretical advantages. Long-term results of brachytherapy in the USA are comparable with surgery or external beam irradiation so far. We should develop more sophisticated brachytherapy techniques in Japan.
Yorozu
Atsunori
A
Dept. of Radiology, Tokyo Medical Center, National Hospital Organization.
Toya
Kazuhito
K
Ohashi
Toshio
T
Ohsuga
Kae
K
Ito
Reiko
R
Kasamatsu
Tomotaka
T
Saito
Shiro
S
Momma
Tetsuo
T
D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes