{"entity":{"id":"ldr-seed-brachytherapy","kind":"technology","name":"Low-dose-rate seed brachytherapy","aka":[],"tldr":"Dozens of rice-grain-sized radioactive seeds are implanted permanently in the prostate in a single procedure and deliver their dose over months.","summary":"Permanent seed implantation uses iodine-125 or palladium-103 seeds placed through the perineum under ultrasound guidance in a one-off outpatient procedure. It is a curative option for low- and favourable intermediate-risk prostate cancer with control matching surgery and external radiotherapy, and is used as a boost in higher-risk disease (the ASCENDE-RT trial). The same seeds treat some lung and pancreatic tumours at surgery, and plaque brachytherapy with similar isotopes treats uveal melanoma.","status":"established","asOf":"2026-09-17","links":[{"label":"Wikipedia","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brachytherapy#Prostate_cancer"}],"tags":["radiation-wave1"],"related":[],"indications":["prostate"],"sections":[],"technologies":[],"targets":[],"drugs":[],"companies":[],"institutions":[],"pathways":[],"terms":[],"trials":[],"people":[],"bottlenecks":[],"keyPapers":[],"journals":[],"dependsOn":[],"notes":[],"principle":"Permanently implanted low-activity sources deliver a continuous low dose rate over weeks to months, exploiting repair differences between tumour and normal tissue.","strengths":["Single procedure","Excellent long-term control in low-risk prostate cancer","Preserves continence for most"],"limitations":["Urinary symptoms for months","Not suitable for large glands or prior TURP","Radiation safety precautions after implant"],"since":1980},"route":"/technologies/ldr-seed-brachytherapy/","neighbours":{"indication":[{"id":"prostate","kind":"indication","name":"Prostate cancer","route":"/indications/prostate/"}],"drug":[{"id":"i-125-seeds","kind":"drug","name":"Iodine-125 brachytherapy seeds","route":"/drugs/i-125-seeds/"},{"id":"re-188-sct","kind":"drug","name":"Rhenium-188 skin cancer therapy","route":"/drugs/re-188-sct/"}]}}