Brachytherapy for the treatment of prostate cancer
Medical Services Advisory Committee
Record ID 32002000064
English
Authors' objectives:
This report aims to assess the effectiveness of brachytherapy for prostate cancer.
Authors' results and conclusions:
There is limited information on the relative effectiveness of brachytherapy treatment. It can be considered as a first line treatment for patients who are fully informed of the potential risks and benefits of each of the alternative treatments available. The ideal patient for brachytherapy is a patient with low volume, low grade to intermediate grade disease with greater than a 10-year life expectancy. It is contraindicated in patients with high grade tumours and in those who have previously had a transurethral resection of the prostate.
Authors' recommendations:
MSAC recommends that from the evidence pertaining to brachytherapy for the treatment of prostate cancer, interim public funding should be supported for patients with prostate cancer:
- at clinical stages T1, T2a or T2b, with Gleason Scores of less than or equal to 6, prostate specific antigen (PSA) of less than or equal to 10 ng/ml, a gland volume less than 40 cc and with a life expectancy of more than 10 years; and
- where the treatment is conducted at approved sites.
This recommendation is to be reviewed no later than three years from the date of this report.
Authors' methods:
Systematic review
Details
Project Status:
Completed
URL for project:
http://www.msac.gov.au/reports.htm
Year Published:
2000
English language abstract:
An English language summary is available
Publication Type:
Not Assigned
Country:
Australia
MeSH Terms
- Brachytherapy
- Prostatic Neoplasms
Contact
Organisation Name:
Medical Services Advisory Committee
Contact Address:
MSAC (MDP 107), GPO Box 9848, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia. Tel: +61 2 6289 6811; Fax: +61 2 6289 8799.
Contact Name:
msac.secretariat@health.gov.au
Contact Email:
msac.secretariat@health.gov.au
Copyright:
Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC)
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.