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St. Patrick Hospital began a prostate seed implant program in May of 2000 under the guidance of the Seattle Prostate Institute of Seattle, WA. Our program is supported by a diverse team of professionals consisting of Urologists, Radiation Oncologists, Physicists and Nurses. We have now performed over 200 implant procedures. To ensure that the patient continues to receive the best possible care and optimal results, we maintain an active program of peer review and quality assurance. After the procedure, xray studies are taken of the patient and judged, both in-house and by the Seattle group, for a quality distribution. The Seattle group advises our team on new, modern techniques that we incorporate in our routine- thus ensuring that our patients receive excellent care.

Transperineal radioactive seed implantation is a radiation therapy modality available at St. Patrick Hospital for treatment of localized prostate cancer. Urologists and Radiation Oncologists administer this program jointly. With this procedure, between 70 and 150 radioactive seeds (each approximately the size of an uncooked grain of rice) are implanted in the prostate gland. This technique allows higher doses of radiation to be delivered to the tumor site while limiting dose to surrounding normal tissues.

Once the radiation oncologist and patient agree that prostate brachytherapy is the preferred treatment, a CT scan is performed to ensure that the prostate is not obstructed by the pubic arch and is in the appropriate size range for implantation. This study also assists the radiation oncologist in determining the quantity and distribution of seeds needed to treat the prostate. The actual implant procedure is performed under general anesthesia and with ultrasound guidance on an outpatient basis. The patient is usually able to return to normal activity within forty-eight hours, although he may continue to have soreness and urinary symptoms for some time afterward.

In order to produce the most accurate implant for any prostate patient, it is necessary to obtain prostate volume information and to generate a treatment plan in one session at the Cancer Center. The prostate volume data are entered into a dedicated, prostate treatment-planning computer. An optimal loading plan for Iodine-125 seeds is produced and thus the most idealized implant can be accomplished.