Guidance
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued full guidance to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on low dose rate brachytherapy for localised prostate cancer in July 2005.
Further recommendations have been made as part of the clinical guideline on prostate cancer published in February 2008, as follows:
Brachytherapy is not recommended for men with high-risk localised prostate cancer.
Clinical and cost-effectiveness evidence was reviewed in the development of this guideline which has led to this more specific recommendation. More information is available from NICE guideline CG58. The IP guidance on low dose rate brachytherapy for localised prostate cancer remains current, and should be read in conjunction with the clinical guideline.
Description
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men. It tends to affect older men, with the risk rising with age. It is not a single disease entity but may be indicated form an incidental biopsy finding to presentation with metastatic prostate cancer, which may or may not cause any symptoms or shorten life. Symptoms when they occur include urinary outflow obstruction and features of metastases, such as bone pain. Prognosis with prostate cancer is variable and depends on the grade of the tumour and stage of the diagnosed cancer. Treatment options depend on the stage of the cancer. Current treatments for localised prostate cancer include watchful waiting, radiotherapy, and radical prostatectomy. Metastatic prostate cancer is usually treated with hormone therapy. Brachytherapy is a form of radiotherapy in which delivery of radiation is targeted directly to the prostate gland through the implantation of small radioactive pellets. Needles are inserted through the skin of the perineum, these needles deliver the seeds which can be left either permanently or temporarily (high dose). These seeds give off radiation at a low dose over several weeks or months, remaining in the prostate gland permanently. In high dose rate brachytherapy thin plastic catheters are inserted through a template, through the perineal skin, and into the prostate gland. They enter the skin below the scrotum and above the rectum. Radioactive seeds are then inserted into each catheter. The catheters are then pulled out, leaving no radioactive material in the prostate gland. Brachytherapy may be used as a primary therapy (monotherapy), in combination with external beam radiation (EBRT) in high dose therapy.
Coding and clinical classification codes for this guidance