10-year experience of prostate cancer brachytherapy: clinical results and economic estimations

Introduction. We review clinical and economic results of brachytherapy on the basis of wide experience. Material and methods. From 2000 to 2011 we have performed treatment of 213 prostate cancer patients with permanent implants of 125-I seeds. Median age was 67.5 (42-82). Hormonal treatment was used in 52.4%. Results. Short time of operation, short terms of in-hospital stay duration and catheterization time, and a small number of overall complication rates are noted. The overall 5-year and 10-year probability of freedom from biochemical recurrence was 79% and 70%, respectively. Incontinence rates following brachytherapy were 2.7%, urethral strictures - 3.3%, rectum complications - 9.9%, erectile disfunction - 34%. Expenses for treatment have made 597973.43 rubles, and expenses for radioactive sources have made 90.6 % of this sum. Conclusion. The perioperative, functional, and oncologic outcome of brachytherapy is very good. The main lack of a method is the big treatment expenses, therefore its further perfection will consist in search of ways of decrease in expenses.