COMBINED BRACHYTHERAPY AND ANTIANDROGEN THERAPY FOR PROSTATE-CANCER

A total of 55 patients with prostate cancer were treated with combined transperineal ultrasound-guided and fluoroscopic implantation of 125- iodine seeds. In addition, 52 patients were treated antihormonally. Th e median age at time of diagnosis was 67 years. 28 patients had tumor stage T2; 27 had T3 or T4. Distribution of grading was CI (6), GII (39 ) and GIII (10). 24 patients had positive lymph-nodes on lymphadenecto my. The mean follow-up was 42 +/- 16 months. Seven patients showed cli nical or PSA recurrence. One patient died of prostate cancer, five of other diseases. Patients with positive lymph-nodes showed equally good results in terms of disease-free survival as did the N-x-patients. Co mplications occurred in 15 patients most commonly urgency resulting fr om subvesical obstruction and two patients had to be treated by TUR-P after reduction of radiation. Implantation of 125-iodine seeds in comb ination with antihormonal therapy is beneficial in patients with or wi thout confirmed lymph-node involvement.