Ultrasonically guided 125iodine seed implantation with external radiation in management of localized prostatic carcinoma

Thirty-three patients with localized prostatic carcinoma (16 poorly differentiated) were treated with transperineal 125Iodine seed implantation (160 Gy) guided by transrectal ultrasonography and subsequent external beam irradiation (47.4 Gy). The observation time was six to sixty-eight months with a median follow-up of thirty-five months. Median change in prostatic volume was a reduction of 35 percent. Re-biopsy or transurethral resection of the prostate was performed in 25 patients after one to two years, revealing still malignant histology in 12 (48%). Development of distant metastases occurred in 14 patients (44%), and 8 have died of prostatic cancer. Fourteen patients suffered from late complications of which surgical intervention was indicated in 3 cases.