Radical Prostatectomy With Adjuvant Radioactive Gold for Prostatic Cancer: A Preliminary Report

Abstract

A total of 71 patients with prostatic carcinoma underwent radical prostatectomy combined with instillation of radioactive Au seeds between Jan. 1, 1977-July 1, 982. Au seeds were implanted intraoperatively into the region of the prostatic vascular pedicles and surrounding fibrolymphatic tissue after removal of the prostate and seminal vesicles. Of the patients with disease confined to the prostate clinically, 46.75% had microscopic extraprostatic local tumor extension. Patients with extraprostatic local tumor apparently derive therapeutic benefit from the addition of adjuvant radioactive Au seeds at prostatectomy. Because of the inaccuracy of clinical staging by rectal examination, radioactive Au seeds were used in all patients at prostatectomy. To date, local recurrence has been noted in 5.6% of the patients and systemic progression in 14.1%.