Seattle Prostate Institute

About Seed Implantation -
Since establishing the first ultrasound-guided prostate implant program in the U.S. in 1985, the SPI medical team has carried out more than 10,000 of these procedures. The information and ideas discussed below reflect our own thoughts and experience with prostate implantation and should not be considered as the norm for all implant programs. Clearly, not all physicians approach a given treatment in exactly the same way. Around the country, there are variations in such areas as patient selection criteria, treatment planning protocols, OR technique, and the use of additional treatments such as hormone therapy and external beam radiation.
It is reasonable to expect that these variations in approach, along with the skill and experience of medical professionals, will produce differences in treatment outcome in terms of cure, side effects, complications etc. Over time, research will shed light on the true nature of these differences and whether or not they are of any significance. For now, we offer the following information in order to give you some insight into the technical aspects of seed implantation, a general idea of what long-term results are possible with this form of treatment, and for those men and their families who are currently facing a treatment decision, greater confidence in your ultimate choice.
What Are Seed Implants?	The Implant Process Described
Historical Development	Side Effects and Complications
Candidates for Implantation	Long Term Results
Adding Other Treatments
WHAT ARE SEED IMPLANTS? Prostate seed implants fall under the category of brachytherapy, a form of radiation treatment in which radioactive materials are placed directly into a cancer-affected organ with the intent of destroying the malignancy. Brachytherapy may be thought of as internal radiation in contrast to the more traditional external beam treatment in which radiation is directed through the body area from an outside source.
Seed implant treatment refers to the placement of tiny radioactive pellets, or seeds, directly into the prostate using needles guided by some type of medical imaging (usually ultrasound). The seeds are about the size of a grain of rice. (Figure 1). Rows of seeds are deposited uniformly throughout the prostate so that the radiation can cover the entire gland. (Figure 2)
Depending on the radioactive material used (Iodine125 or Palladium103), the seeds release radiation gradually over a period of 6 to 12 months after which they become completely inert. Since they lose all of their radioactivity, the seeds do not have to be removed and can safely remain in the prostate for the rest of the patients life