Defining the rectal dose constraint for permanent radioactive seed implantation of the prostate.
OBJECTIVE
This study was performed to define the rectal dose constraint that would predict late rectal bleeding requiring argon plasma coagulation (APC) following prostate brachy mono-therapy.


METHODS
Between February 1999 and April 2002, 91 patients with low risk prostate cancer underwent permanent I(125) radioactive seed implantation without the use of supplemental external beam radiation or androgen suppression therapy. Patients received both CT and MRI scans 6 weeks postimplant for evaluation of dosimetry. The CT and MRI scans were fused. Rectal volumes were contoured on the T2 weighted MR images. For those patients requiring APC, the date on which a patient reported rectal bleeding was recorded. A Cox regression analysis was performed to assess whether there was a significant association between the rectal volume (continuous) exceeding 100 Gy time rectal bleeding. Comparisons of estimates of rectal bleeding requiring APC were made using a 2-sided log rank test.


RESULTS
There was a significant association (hazard ratio = 5.6 [95% confidence interval: 1.3, 23.8]; P = 0.002) between the rectal volume exceeding 100 Gy and rectal bleeding requiring APC. After a median follow-up of 4.25 (1-6) years, no patient with less than a median value of 8 cc of rectum exceeding 100 Gy required APC, whereas 20% (P = 0.004) were estimated to require APC within 3 years following treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Keeping the rectal volume receiving more than 100 Gy below 8 cc will minimize the risk of rectal bleeding requiring APC following I(125) permanent prostate brachy mono-therapy.
Albert
Michele
M
Department of Radiation Oncology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA. malbert@lroc.harvard.edu
Song
Jun S
JS
Schultz
Delray
D
Cormack
Robert A
RA
Tempany
Clare M
CM
Haker
Steve
S
Devlin
Phillip M
PM
Beard
Clair
C
Hurwitz
Mark D
MD
Suh
Wonsuk W
WW
Jolesz
Ferenc
F
D'Amico
Anthony V
AV
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D012007:Rectum