[Histological follow-up after implantation of grains of I-125 for prostatic cancer].

The authors report a preliminary study of 12 cases of carcinoma of the prostate confined to the prostate (T1, T2, T3, NO, MO) treated by pelvic lymphadenectomy and the implantation of grains of I 125 in the prostatic tissue. Irradiation continued for six months, providing most dose of 100 Gy in the prostate. Interstitial irradiation caused not only the destruction of tumour cells but also "radiation prostate" lesions with vascular obliteration which itself caused sufficient impairment of the vitality of the prostatic tissue for any residual tumour to disappear with a frequency which increased with the time elapsing between the follow up prostatic biopsy and the implantation of radioactive iodine. Experience remains limited but the initial figures given here suggest the validity of continuing along these lines.