The permanently implanted seeds give off low-level radiation continuously for approximately one year. M.D. He and radiation therapists James Santoro, M.D., and Matthew Mumber, M.D., are working together to provide this treatment locally. With the use of a special tool for guidance, these seeds can be positioned so that the radiation is distributed through the entire prostate gland. Relatively little radiation reaches adjacent organs because each seed only irradiates a small volume of radiation. The procedure takes about two hours and requires anesthesia.
Most patients can expect to spend one night in the hospital.
The implant procedure does not require a surgical incision. Instead, the seeds are contained in thin needles, which are passed into the prostate gland through the skin. As the needles penetrate the prostate, they are seen on a sonogram screen and can be accurately guided to their final position. When each needle is in its correct position in the prostate, the needle is slowly withdrawn and the individual seeds are injected into the prostate. The number of needles and seeds required varies from patient to patient, depending on the size of the prostate.