How is iodine-125 used in brachytherapy?

During the procedure, radioactive (iodine-125 or I-125) seeds are implanted into the prostate gland using ultrasound guidance. The number of seeds and where they’re placed is determined by a computer-generated treatment plan tailored for each patient. About 100 seeds are commonly implanted.

Why is iodine-125 used in radiotherapy?

Iodine-125 (125I) is a radioisotope of iodine which has uses in biological assays, nuclear medicine imaging and in radiation therapy as brachytherapy to treat a number of conditions, including prostate cancer, uveal melanomas, and brain tumors….Iodine-125.

What type of radiation does iodine-125 release?

gamma rays
Iodine-125 is a commonly used radionuclide with a half-life of 60 days, emitting gamma rays with a maximum energy of 0.035 MeV (Million Electron Volts).

Why is iodine used in brachytherapy?

Interstitial iodine-125 brachytherapy Interstitial implantation of a radioactive source such as iodine-125 is designed to deliver a high radiation dose to a well-defined tumor volume while minimizing the dose to the surrounding normal brain.

Are brachytherapy seeds removed?

Permanent brachytherapy inserts needles pre-filled with radioactive seeds into the tumor. The doctor will remove the needle and leave the seeds behind. Seeds may also be implanted using a device that inserts them individually at regular intervals. The procedure may use medical imaging to help position the seeds.

What are the benefits of using iodine-125?

Iodine-125 (125I) is a radioisotope of iodine with a half-life of 59.43 days and lower energy, and 125I seed implantation has been successfully used in radiation therapy as brachytherapy to treat a number of types of tumors, including prostate cancer, uveal melanomas, brain tumors, rectal carcinoma,2 advanced …

Is Iodine-125 natural or synthetic?

Iodine-125 is created by the electron capture decay of Xenon-125, which is a synthetic isotope of Xenon, itself created by neutron capture of the slightly radioactive Xenon-124, which occurs naturally with an abundance of around 0.1%.

What is the iodine 125 used for?

Is iodine used for brachytherapy?

Iodine-125 brachytherapy is a valuable treatment option for patients with non-resectable, small, and circumscribed untreated tumours in any location of the brain, as well as local circumscribed recurrences after previously performed percutaneous radiotherapy and/or surgery [75].

Are radiation seeds MRI safe?

Yes, the seeds are titanium, similar to other pins or clips used in medical procedures. There are no contraindications to MRI or other scans.

What is gold seed implant?

What are Gold Seeds? Gold seeds allow your oncologist to see where your prostate is each time you have a radiation treatment. The gold seeds are not radioactive. They will stay in your prostate. Pictures of your pelvis (see example below) will be taken before every radiation therapy treatment.

Is Iodine-125 stable?

Of these isotopes, only iodine-127 (I-127) is stable and represents all of the natural iodine. Of the 30 iodine radioisotopes, the most stable is iodine-129 (I-129) with a half-life of 15.7 million years. All others have a half-life of less than 60 days.

How long does it take to get radioactive seed implants?

Radioactive seed implants are an outpatient procedure. Compared to external radiation — which requires up to seven to seven-and-a-half weeks of daily treatments — convenience is a major advantage of this treatment option. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission.

How are radioactive seed implants used to treat prostate cancer?

Permanent radioactive seed implants are a form of radiation therapy for prostate cancer. The terms “brachytherapy” or “internal radiation therapy” might also be used to describe this procedure. During the procedure, radioactive (iodine-125 or I-125) seeds are implanted into the prostate gland using ultrasound guidance.

How long do brachytherapy seed implants stay in place?

The number of seeds and where they are placed is determined by a computer-generated treatment plan tailored for each patient. About 100 seeds are commonly implanted. The implants remain in place permanently, and become biologically inert (inactive) after about 10 months.

How are radioactive seeds implanted in the bladder?

Once accurate needle placement is confirmed, the seeds in that needle are released. This process is continued until all of the radioactive seeds have been implanted. No surgical incision or cutting is necessary. If there is some blood in the urine, a catheter might be placed into the bladder for a short period of time to ensure proper drainage.