Use of Interstitial Temperature Self-Regulating Thermal Rods in the Treatment of Prostate Cancer

Abstract

Several groups are investigating a new technique for thermal treatment of the prostate involving permanent implantation of small biocompatable rods in a procedure similar to brachytherapy. The rods are then heated by an extracorporeal alternating magnetic field. The rods are composed of an alloy of palladium and cobalt such that they are temperature self-regulating; the regulated temperature is set during manufacture. Clinically, rods with a regulating temperature in the hyperthermia range are being employed as an adjuvant to external-beam radiation. Rods with a regulation temperature in the thermal ablation range are being used in two patient groups: those with newly diagnosed stage T₁ or T₂ prostate cancer and those who have localized recurrent disease after external-beam radiation. Early data appear promising.