[The French preliminary experience of the use of a seed-projector for exclusive iodine 125 prostate brachytherapy: feasibility and acute toxicity].
OBJECTIVE
To analyse a new technique for prostate brachytherapy with permanent Iodine implants characterized by the use of a seed projector after a 3D dosimetric peroperative treatment planning (FIRST technique).


METHODS
395 patients have been treated in France with this technique in six radiotherapy centres between November 2002 and December 2005 for a localized prostate cancer.


RESULTS
Thirteen patients (3.3%) developped a urinary retention, and respectively 7.8 and 26.5% an acute RTOG grade 3 and 2 toxicity. The 6-weeks IPSS score was equal or lower to 15 in 73% with a 11 median IPSS value. A failure of the loading with the seed-projector, leading to a manual loading of the seeds, occurred in 9 patients (2.3%) in two centres, directly related to the loading procedure with the seed-projector in 5 cases. The median duration of the procedure was reduced by 30 minutes for the patients treated in 2005.


CONCLUSIONS
This multicenter study establishes the feasibility of the routine use of a seed projector for permanent iodine 125 prostate implants with an initial tolerance similar to the best results published for other implants techniques.
Pommier
P
P
Centre Léon-Bérard, 28, rue Laënnec, 69373 Lyon, France. pommier@lyon.fnclcc.fr
Delannes
M
M
LeFloch
O
O
Bernier
V
V
Baron
M-H
MH
Thomas
L
L
Malet
C
C
Bonnet
J
J
Louisot
P
P
Aletti
P
P
Goubard
O
O
Chemin
A
A
Chirat
F
F
Lebivic
S
S
Montbarbon
X
X
Bachaud
J-M
JM
Votron
L
L
Lasbareilles
O
O
Desmettre
O
O
Bringeon
G
G
Gassa
F
F
Peiffert
D
D
D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011467:Prostate / Q000473:pathology; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted; D013997:Time Factors; D016055:Urinary Retention / Q000209:etiology
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen