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Radioactive iodine‐125 implantation for cancer of the prostate
Author(s) -
Nag Subir
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
the prostate
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.295
H-Index - 123
eISSN - 1097-0045
pISSN - 0270-4137
DOI - 10.1002/pros.2990060309
Subject(s) - medicine , prostate cancer , urology , prostate , prostatectomy , nuclear medicine , surgery , urinary bladder , cancer
Localized cancer of the prostate can be treated by radical prostatectomy, external beam irradiation, or radioactive implantation with similar survival results. Radical prostatectomy, however, almost universally results in impotency, although a new, nerve‐sparing procedure may preserve potency in B1 patients. External beam irradiation radiates a large volume of tissue with significant rectal and bladder morbidity, 23–47% risk of impotency, and requires prolonged treatment (6–8 weeks). Radioactive implantation may be done suprapubically or transperineally using iodine‐125, gold‐198, or radon‐222 permanent implantation techniques and iridium‐192 or radium‐226 removable implantation techniques. Interstitial iodine‐125 implantation is frequently employed since it is a short procedure and limits the morbidity to a 7% incidence of impotency, 20% urinary complications, and 5% rectal complications. The overall 5‐year survival of patients with iodine‐125 is 79%, the survival rate decreasing with increasing T or N stage or increasing grade of tumor.