Rectal fistulas after prostate brachytherapy.

Purpose: To compare the rectal and prostatic radiation doses for a prospective series of 503 patients, 44 of whom developed persistent rectal bleeding, and 2 of whom developed rectal-prostatic fistulas.

Methods And Materials: The 503 patients were randomized and treated by implantation with 125I vs. 103Pd alone (n = 290) or to 103Pd with 20 Gy vs.