Is there sufficient data to support the use of seeding over surgery?
Yes, there is. Numerous independent studies have contrasted statistical data from both options. Follow-up studies have been in place since the beginning of our practice in 1990. Other large programs, including the Northwest Tumor Institute and the University of Washington in Seattle report an approximate 80% seeding success rate after 12 years of follow up. Our data, using combination beam and seeds, has demonstrated a greater than 80% success rate after 13 years even in patients having locally advanced high-risk malignancies (Stage T3, PSA > 10, Gleason Score 7-10, elevated PAP) while patients having early or intermediate stage disease have enjoyed a greater than 90% success rate. (Note that the longest surgery data follow-up is only 14 years from Johns Hopkins and the “median follow-up” on our patients is longer than any surgical series).
