Permanent interstitial brachytherapy for prostate cancer: a current review.

Prostate brachytherapy with permanent radioactive implants is becoming an increasingly popular treatment choice for patients with prostate cancer. This therapy is attractive to patients due to the fact that it is an outpatient procedure and in many cases has been associated with lower long-term risks of urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction when compared to other curative modalities. This review will describe the history, isotopes used, implantation techniques, and results achieved with modern prostate brachytherapy. Results will be discussed both in terms of cancer control and health-related quality of life endpoints.