Prostate seed implants
Prostate Cancer may be treated with IMRT or one of two types of brachytherapy- Permanant Seed Implants (PSI) and Temporary High Dose Rate Implants. Prostate seed implantation, in which tiny radioactive “seeds” of iodine-125 are implanted into the prostate. Radiation Oncology Centers perform permanent radioactive prostate seed implantations in collaboration with Mercy General Hospital and Sutter Roseville Medical Center. Ultrasound imagery , computed tomography and advanced computerized implant dosimetry enable placement of radioactive seeds with a high degree of accuracy. Once a patient is approved for seed implant by the brachytherapy team, a set of ultrasound images of the prostate is obtained with a rectal probe. These images are used to plan the distribution of radioactive seeds in the prostate. The radiation oncologist, a medical physicist and a dosimetrist determine the optimal seed distribution to deliver an appropriate dose to the cancer in the prostate while minimizing radiation exposure for the urethra, rectum, bladder and other critical structures. The procedure itself is relatively painless.