What is the difference between the intraoperative planning and pre-planning technique?
Intraoperative planning is when the prostate is measured and dose is calculated to deliver the proper amount of radiation in the operating room on the same day as the implant procedure. Pre-planning is very similar in that measurements of the prostate are taken 1-2 weeks prior to the day of implant. The radiation is calculated accordingly. We prefer pre-planning because the prostate really does not change its shape or size and therefore, accurate measurements can be taken to ensure the proper number of radioactive seeds are ordered, allowing for additional quality assurance prior to the actual implant. Furthermore, pre-planning is very efficient, requiring essentially no additional time for the patient who is under anesthesia during an implant.
