[High-dose-rate brachytherapy of prostatic carcinoma with iridium 192]

In the therapy of localized prostatic cancer the radical prostatectomy shows good results within a five-year interval with no evidence of disease in nearly 90%. An important alternative is the radiotherapy by external beam or interstitial technique with iodine, gold or iridium. We use the high dose rate technique with Ir-192. In this technique five to seven hollow needles are placed in the prostate from perineal punctures under transrectal sonographic control. The three-dimensional brachytherapy planning is done according the actual needle position. A computer program calculates the radiation dose and distribution for each needle by adjustment of time and stops of the Ir-implants. The Ir-192 is temporary loaded twice with 9 Gy supplemented with external beam radiation (18 x 2 Gy). Since 1985 29 patients with localized tumor (T1-T3, N0, M0) have been irradiated. 21/29 had a pelvic lymphadenectomy before. In 85% of the patients were seen no side effects. Only one patient had a serious complication through a recto-vesical fistula. Out of the 21 followed-up patients 16 were in full remission, three had an androgen deprivation because of progression. A local tumor control could be demonstrated by cytology in 70% of the patients. This rational technique seems to be an alternative for patients not eligible for a radical prostatectomy.