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PROSTATE CANCER
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Ultrasound-guided Permanent Seed Prostate Brachytherapy:
By Donald B. Fuller, M.D. |
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Brief Overview of the Prostate Brachytherapy Process
The prostate brachytherapy treatment process begins with an ultrasound “prostate volume study,” which is then exported into the brachytherapy planning computer. Next, after the prostate target volume has been carefully designed on the computer, a customized seed plan is created and printed on a “seed map” to guide the physician for the subsequent procedure. Several days or weeks later, the brachytherapy procedure is accomplished in accordance with the “seed map” instructions, and the patient is discharged home the same day. Following the procedure, the patient returns for a CT scan of the prostate as well as X-rays to determine seed position. This allows accurate calculation of the radiation dose delivered by the seeds to the prostate target volume. After the implant has been completed, the radiation oncologist and nursing staff follow the patient’s progress closely until the side effects of treatment wear off over the months that follow the procedure.
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3D Conformal Radiotherapy (with IMRT)
High Dose Rate Prostate Brachytherapy
CyberKnife Radiosurgery for Prostate Cancer
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| Prostate seed plan |
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