CLINICAL COURSE OF RECTAL BLEEDING FOLLOWING I-125 PROSTATE BRACHYTHERAPY

Purpose: Despite the occurrence of some rectal complications in most l arge series of patients treated with radiation, there is surprisingly little information regarding their management. We report here the clin ical course of such patients after I-125 brachytherapy, in an effort t o help delineate a rational management policy. Methods and Materials: 109 patients with stage T1 to T2 prostatic carcinoma and Gleason score 2 to 7 were treated with I-125 implantation from 1988 through 1995. N o external radiation was given. The prescribed minimum radiation dose to the prostate was 140 to 160 Gy. Results: Nineteen of 109 patients ( actuarial incidence: 19%) developed persistent, bright red rectal blee ding, from 1 to 28 months following I-125 implantation. Most occurred in the early part of the implant experience. Bleeding resolved in 6 of the 19 patients, from 9 to 48 months from the time of onset. Nine pat ients were treated with steroid enemas. Laser coagulation was used in three patients, and six patients had no intervention. There was no obv ious difference in the resolution rate between groups. There was no ob vious difference in the rectal wall radiation for patients who did or did not experience resolution of their bleeding. Conclusion: Persisten t, minor radiation-related bleeding after prostate brachytherapy can b e a source of consternation to patients. They should be reassured that spontaneous healing is likely to occur eventually in a large portion of patients, and should be cautioned against invasive treatment, unles s absolutely necessary. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.