[Use of brachytherapy in the treatment of localized prostate cancer. Preliminary report]

We emphasize the good results obtained by authors of the United States of North America and Europe using prostate brachytherapy in the treatment of localized prostate cancer.

We report 50 patients with stage T1c-T2c treated during the last twenty one months (September 2000, June 2001). Two groups were made--according to Gleason, PSA, local infiltration and percentage of tumor volume in the Biopsy--in low and high risk patients. We report the methodology used in the surgical procedure.

We found the nadir of PSA was 0.5-1 in seven patients followed during eighteen months, and fifteen patients followed during twelve months. We had a failure in two patients. A reference is made about two patients with previously TURP and one with open prostatectomy, with very good post-operative results. Secondary effects are essentially irritative symptoms, well controlled by medical treatment. Four patients had acute urinary retention, one of them persistent. Normal erections were found in thirty five patients, and partial in fifteen, which had a very good respond to Sildenafil. Four cases had partial incontinence, currently only one persist during sleep.

We have had very good results during the first twenty one months of treatment of cancer of the prostate with brachytherapy. In our opinion the procedure is a very valid option of treatment for this disease.