BJR
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
First published online June 8, 2009
British Journal of Radiology (2009) 82, 941-945
© 2009 British Institute of Radiology
doi: 10.1259/bjr/14201041
This Article
Right arrow Figures Only
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by IGDEM, S
Right arrow Articles by OKKAN, S
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by IGDEM, S
Right arrow Articles by OKKAN, S

Implantation of fiducial markers for image guidance in prostate radiotherapy: patient-reported toxicity

S IGDEM, MD 1 H AKPINAR, MD 2 G ALÇO, MD 1 F AGAÇAYAK, MD 3 S TURKAN, MD 1 and S OKKAN, MD 4

1 Department of Radiation Oncology, Florence Nightingale Gayrettepe Hospital, 2 Department of Urology, Istanbul Bilim University, 3 Department of Radiology, Florence Nightingale Gayrettepe Hospital and 4 Department of Radiation Oncology, Istanbul Bilim University, Istanbul, Turkey

Correspondence: Sefik Igdem, Department of Radiation Oncology, Florence Nightingale Gayrettepe Hospital, Cemil Aslan Güder sok 8, Gayrettepe 34340 Istanbul, Turkey. E-mail: sigdem{at}superonline.com

The purpose of this study was to evaluate patient-reported morbidity of implanted fiducial markers used for image guidance in prostate radiotherapy. Three fiducial markers were implanted under transrectal ultrasound guidance to 177 patients who were referred to our department for definitive radiotherapy between June 2005 and January 2008. No local anaesthesia was administered. Patients were asked to complete a questionnaire about the possible side effects of this invasive procedure. 135 patients completed the questionnaire at a median of 57 weeks after the procedure. Pain during the procedure was assessed with the Wong–Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale. Patients were also asked to compare the pain with the diagnostic biopsy. Although haematuria, rectal bleeding and fever were reported by 15%, 4% and 2% of the 135 patients, respectively, no major toxicity necessitating any intervention was observed. The mean pain score reported by the patients was 1.7 (range, 0–5). 87% of patients reported less (or comparable) pain than the diagnostic biopsy. In conclusion, implantation of fiducial markers for image guidance in prostate radiotherapy is a safe and well-tolerated procedure.






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
BJR DMFR IMAGING  ALL BIR JOURNALS 
Copyright © 2009 by the British Institute of Radiology.