Technique of outpatient placement of intraprostatic fiducial markers before external beam radiotherapy.

OBJECTIVES: To describe our technique and preliminary toxicity profile for ultrasound-guided outpatient placement of intraprostatic fiducial markers before intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for prostate cancer. METHODS: A total of 98 men with prostate cancer who underwent IMRT from August 2003 through September 2006 were included in the present study. All subjects underwent ultrasound-guided transrectal placement of 3 gold intraprostatic fiducial markers under local anesthesia using our standard technique. Daily on-line image guidance adjustments were made according to the location of the fiducial markers. The charts were reviewed to evaluate the acute toxicity profile of IMRT with fiducial markers during the treatment course using the Common Toxicity Criteria, version 3.0. The International Prostate Symptom Score, clinical stage, and Gleason score were tabulated. RESULTS: Fiducial marker placement proceeded without complications. The median radiation dose administered was 75.6 Gy (range 50-79.2). Grade 1 or 2 enteritis was observed in 30 of 98 patients (31%), with no cases of rectal bleeding. Grade 1 or 2 perineal dermatitis occurred in 9 patients (9.2%). Genitourinary toxicity manifested in 75 patients (77%) as grade 1 or 2 cystitis. Four patients (4%) developed urinary retention, requiring catheterization. One patient (1%) had an episode of gross hematuria. No grade 3 toxicities were observed. No significant change in the International Prostate Symptom Score at 3 months in patients with available follow-up was found (P = .34). CONCLUSIONS: The placement of intraprostatic fiducial markers before prostate IMRT is a safe and efficacious method for prostate localization that produces an excellent toxicity profile.

The addition of robotic surgery to an established laparoscopic radical prostatectomy program: effect on positive surgical margins.

PURPOSE: The addition of robotic assistance with the da Vinci surgical system for performing laparoscopic radical prostatectomy has been reported to improve surgical outcomes. In order to evaluate the benefit of robotic assistance to improve cancer control in a center with an established laparoscopic radical prostatectomy program, we evaluated the incidence of positive surgical margins in both transperitoneal laparoscopic (LRP) and robotically assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed an Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved, retrospective review of 247 men with clinically localized prostate cancer treated with either a LRP or a RALP from March 2000 to August 2006. Pathology reports were reviewed for both preoperative and postoperative Gleason score as well as clinical and pathological stage. Surgical pathology specimens were evaluated using a whole mount, step section technique. Extracapsular extension, seminal vesicle invasion and positive margins were noted when present in the final surgical pathologic specimens. RESULTS: One hundred ninety seven patients underwent LRP, and 50 patients underwent RALP. Seven of the 197 LRP required open conversion to retropubic radical prostatectomy, and were excluded. None of the RALP were converted. The overall positive surgical margin rate for LRP and RALP was 18% (35/190) and 6% (3/50), respectively (p = 0.032). When examining pathologically organ confined specimens (pT2), the positive surgical margin rate was 12% (20/161) and 4.7% (2/43) for the LRP and RALP cohorts, respectively (p = 0.181). For pathologic disease that has spread outside the capsule (pT3/T4), the positive surgical margin rate was 54% (15/28) and 14% (1/7) for LRP and RALP, respectively (p = 0.062). Patient age, race and prostate volume were not significant factors in the incidence of positive surgical margins. CONCLUSION: The addition of robotic assistance to an established laparoscopic radical prostatectomy program appears to reduce the incidence of positive surgical margins. Data is maturing to determine whether this will lead to improved functional and oncologic outcomes.

Contrast enhanced ultrasound flash replenishment method for directed prostate biopsies.

PURPOSE: We evaluated prostate cancer detection with contrast enhanced ultrasound of the prostate using MicroFlow Imaging (Toshiba America Medical Systems, Tustin, California) compared to systematic biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 patients referred for prostate biopsy were evaluated with pre-contrast and contrast enhanced MicroFlow Imaging transrectal ultrasound. MicroFlow Imaging is a flash replenishment technique that uses high power flash pulses to destroy contrast microbubbles, followed by low power pulses to demonstrate contrast replenishment. A composite image depicting the vascular architecture is constructed through maximum intensity capture of temporal data in consecutive low power images. Using MicroFlow Imaging up to 5 directed biopsy cores were obtained from areas of abnormal vascular enhancement or morphology, followed by a systematic 10-core biopsy protocol. RESULTS: A biopsy positive for cancer was found in 79 of the 825 cores (10%) from 18 of the 60 subjects (30%). Positive biopsies were obtained in 50 of 600 systematic core biopsies (8.3%) and in 29 of 225 directed cores (13%) (OR 2.02, p = 0.034). Five of the 18 patients diagnosed with cancer were identified only by systematic biopsy, 2 were identified only by directed biopsy with MicroFlow Imaging and 11 were identified by the 2 techniques (p >0.25). Twice the number of patients was detected per core with directed vs systematic biopsy (0.058 vs 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: The vascular detail provided by MicroFlow Imaging allowed directed biopsy of these areas with increased detection of prostate cancer. Although a minority of cancers were not detected with MicroFlow Imaging directed biopsy, this technique detected twice as many patients with prostate cancer per biopsy core.

Advances in transrectal ultrasound imaging of the prostate.

Grayscale imaging of the prostate is the basic method for diagnostic evaluation and biopsy guidance. Doppler imaging may improve sensitivity for detection of prostate cancer. Microbubble contrast agents represent a major advance to more selectively demonstrate neovascular flow within the prostate. Recently, real-time elastography has been introduced to improve detection of cancer based upon changes in tissue stiffness. As diagnostic methods improve, the ultimate hope is to eliminate biopsy in patients without cancer. New ultrasound-based treatment systems, such as high-intensity focused ultrasound ablative therapy for prostate cancer, may someday allow diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer to be completed in one sitting.