Historical Background

Brachytherapy was first applied in 1910, when D.Pasto and P.Degre inserted radium-226 capsules into the prostate gland through urethra.

After that in 1917, in the USA B.Barringer inserted micro sources into the gland using needles.

Then in 1930, R.Flocks et al. used radioactive gold as an implant.  

Revival of the prostate gland cancer brachytherapy started in 1970 due to development of the technology of retropubical open implantation of I-125 grains at the Memorial Hospital of New York. However, in open retropubical technology iodine grains were inserted manually, preventing from well distribution in the prostate gland: with excessive activity zones there were cold foci.   

In 1981 H.Holm and D.Gammelguard applied iodine-125 microsources implantation technology for prostate gland tissue under control of transrectal ultrasound scan (TRUS). Such method was first applied for biopsy and it was clear that it could be used for visualization of radioactive sources position in the prostate gland. This was the basis for new brachytherapy technology.

In 1990 P.Kutrevelis used three dimensional stereotaxis attachment to the computer tomograph (CT) for treatment of patients suffering from prostate gland cancer which could not be treated with brachytherapy method under TRUS control.
In 2000 at R&D Institute of Urology of the Ministry of Health of Russia in Moscow a new method of prostate gland cancer treatment was implemented – brachytherapy. This institute became the first medical institution in Russia which started using brachytherapy, a unique technology well known and applied in the whole world.

The method of Professor P. Kutrevelis (brachytherapy under CT control) has been used in the Brachytherapy.