HOW I DO IT

• How I Do It: Hydrogel spacer placement in men scheduled to undergo prostate radiotherapy

  Montoya Juan, Gross Eric, Karsh Lawrence, MD The Urology Center of Colorado, Denver, Colorado, USA

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  Hydrogel spacer placement between the prostate and rectum in men scheduled to undergo prostate radiotherapy is an emerging technique well suited for urologists. The hydrogel spacer reduces rectal injury during radiotherapy by displacing the rectum away from the high dose region. Following radiotherapy the hydrogel spacer then liquifies, is absorbed, and then clears via renal filtration in approximately 6 months. Herein we describe the appropriate patients eligible for this procedure, and the application technique we use in our clinic.

  Keywords: prostate cancer, radiotherapy, hydrogel spacer, application, quality of life,

  Apr 2018 (Vol. 25, Issue 2 , Page 9288)
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