RE: I-125 Prostate Therapy Regs.

["Karam, Andrew" <Andrew_Karam@URMC.Rochester.edu>]

Hi, Zack -

Some of the seeds are inadvertently pushed through the prostate into or near
the bladder.  Most of the time these are found during an inspection of the
bladder following the implantation, but not always.  The most I have seen in
one procedure was 5 or 6 (110 were implanted).  In addition, I have been
told that, by whatever mechanism, seeds will sometimes migrate.  One of the
urologists here has told me of seeds migrating into the abdominal or chest
cavities over the space of weeks or months.  I don't know how frequently
this occurs.

As far as changes in dose go, I don't know that I would necessarily expect
much because we're looking at a few percent of the total implanted activity,
but there are probably more knowledgeable people than I who could address
that topic.

Andy

Andrew Karam, CHP              (716) 275-1473 (voice)
Radiation Safety Officer          (716) 275-3781 (office)
University of Rochester           (716) 256-0365 (fax)
601 Elmwood Ave. Box HPH   Rochester, NY  14642

Andrew_Karam@URMC.Rochester.edu
http://Intranet.urmc.rochester.edu/RadiationSafety
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