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Permanent Seed Implants
Are mainly utilized for the treatment of prostate cancer
and is used in conjunction with external beam therapy. The
prostate seed implant procedure uses a rectal ultrasound
as a guide to implant the prostate with hollow needles. Through
these needles, permanent radioactive seeds are inserted into
the prostate. Each seed is about the size of a grain of rice.
The seeds are permanent and radiation is released continuously
24 hours a day as the radioactive seeds deposit the radiation
within the prostate. The radioactive seeds deliver a very
high radiation dose to the prostate while limiting the radiation
dose to the surrounding normal tissue and therefore reducing
the side effects. The prostate size and extent of disease
are limiting factors that determine if this treatment option
is the best course of therapy for the patient. Prostate seed
implants are done as an outpatient procedure and is considered
one of the finest treatments available for prostate cancer.
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