title: The phylogeny of permanent prostate brachytherapy.
abstract: Permanent prostate brachytherapy has been practiced for more than a century. This review examines the influence of earlier procedures on the modern transperineal ultrasound-directed technique. A literature review was conducted to examine the origin of current clinical practice. The dimensions of the modern brachytherapy seed, the prescription dose, and implant/teletherapy sequencing are vestigial features, which may be suboptimal in the current era of low-energy photon-emitting radionuclides and computerized dose calculations. Although the modern transperineal permanent prostate implant procedure has proven to be safe and effective, it should undergo continuous re-evaluation and evolution to ensure that its potential is maximized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Jesse N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Aronowitz
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rivard
keywords: brachytherapy; history of medicine; prostate cancer; prostatic neoplasms