Historical review of interstitial prostate brachytherapy

In the recent years, interstitial brachytherapy implantation has become the treatment of choice for early stage prostate cancer patients. Treatment of prostate cancer with radiation is traced back to 1909. Originally this treatment modality was very crude and could not gain much popularity till 1982. Advancements in radioactive source designs, introduction of new low energy radioactive sources, and new imaging modalities made this treatment modality a treatment of choice for early stage prostate cancer patients. Popularity of this modality is due to the fact that five-and ten-year disease control rates of brachytherapy are equal to those of the surgical, whereas, the toxicity and side-effects are perceived to be lower. This manuscript presents historical review of interstitial brachytherapy, innovations in radioactive source designs, dosimetry and dose calculations.