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For patients you treat with LDR prostate brachytherapy, how do you sequence treatment with external beam radiation therapy?

Do you prefer LDR prostate brachytherapy first or as a "boost" following external beam radiation therapy?
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How do you sequence LDR prostate brachytherapy and external beam radiation therapy?

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5 Answers
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Radiation Oncology · Varian Medical Systems/Allegheny health network
Answered on

We use EBRT followed by LDR brachytherapy in 3-4 weeks time

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Radiation Oncology · Washington University School of Medicine
Answered on

To do LDR followed by EBRT you must be mindful that the implant will still be active and delivering low dose rate radiation while EBRT is being delivered. So the prescription must either be modified from the traditional 45Gy + 110Gy or you will need to use a short half life isotope (Cs or Pd) and wa...

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Radiation Oncology · Urology Centers of Alabama
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With combination brachytherapy and external radiotherapy for prostate cancer, I see the greatest intensity of side effects (primarily urinary) following the brachytherapy procedure. Scheduling the brachytherapy after the external beam would require either a significant gap in treatments to allow res...

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Radiation Oncology · Prostate Cancer Institute of America
Answered on

We also sequence LDR implant after EBRT. My exception is small glands (~12-18cc) that will get ADT. Due to cytoreduction, I will implant first to prevent a potentially technically challenging implant.

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Radiation Oncology · Northern Nevada Radiation Oncology
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Having sequenced LDR before and after, I now always do it first. It is easy to start external beam but can be more difficult to schedule a seed implant given operating room availability, anesthesia availability, physics presence sooner rather than later, etc...

I usually wait 2 weeks prior to starti...

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