title: The American College of Radiology and the American Brachytherapy Society practice parameter for transperineal permanent brachytherapy of prostate cancer.
abstract: Transperineal permanent brachytherapy is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with organ-confined prostate cancer. Careful adherence to established brachytherapy standards has been shown to improve the likelihood of procedural success and reduce the incidence of treatment-related morbidity. A collaborative effort of the American College of Radiology (ACR) and the American Brachytherapy Society (ABS) has produced practice parameters for LDR prostate brachytherapy. These practice parameters define the qualifications and responsibilities of all the involved personnel, including the radiation oncologist, physicist and dosimetrist. Factors with respect to patient selection and appropriate use of supplemental treatment modalities such as external beam radiation and androgen suppression therapy are discussed. Logistics with respect to the brachytherapy implant procedure, the importance of dosimetric guidelines, and attention to radiation safety procedures and documentation are presented. Adherence to these parameters can be part of ensuring quality and safety in a successful prostate brachytherapy program.
authors.affiliation: Tacoma Valley Radiation Oncology Centers, Tacoma, WA, USA. Electronic address: njamiolkowski@acr.org.
authors.forename: Nathan H J
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Bittner
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Lebanon, NH, USA; Dana Farber/Brigham & Women's Cancer Centers, Weymouth, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Peter F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Orio
authors.affiliation: Schliffer Cancer Center, Wheeling Hospital Medical Park, Wheeling, WV, USA.
authors.forename: Gregory S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Merrick
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Bon Secours Cancer Institute, Norfolk, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Bradley R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Prestidge
authors.affiliation: Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.
authors.forename: Alan Charles
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Hartford
authors.affiliation: Roseville Radiation Oncology, Sutter Radiation Oncology Center, Roseville, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Seth A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Rosenthal
mesh_terms: D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000379:methods*; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018579:Patient Selection; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D018787:Radiation Oncology; D011871:Radiology; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted; D012955:Societies, Medical; D014481:United States
keywords: Brachytherapy; Dosimetry; Prostate cancer; Quality assurance; Safety