HDR brachytherapy combined with external beam radiation for localised prostate cancer: early experience from the Sydney Cancer Centre.

Introduction: To report the toxicity and early efficacy of high-dose rate brachytherapy (HDR) as a boost to external beam radiation (EBRT) in the treatment of localised prostate cancer.

Methods: Between December 2002 and November 2007, 101 consecutive patients with intermediate or high risk prostate cancer were treated with EBRT plus an HDR boost. The HDR boost was initially delivered in three fractions of 6.

Prostate HDR brachytherapy catheter displacement between planning and treatment delivery.

Background And Purpose: HDR brachytherapy is used as a conformal boost for treating prostate cancer. Given the large doses delivered, it is critical that the volume treated matches that planned. Our outpatient protocol comprises two 9 Gy fractions, two weeks apart.