Cold spot mapping inferred from MRI at time of failure predicts biopsy-proven local failure after permanent seed brachytherapy in prostate cancer patients: Implications for focal salvage brachytherapy

Abstract Background and purpose (1) To establish a method to evaluate dosimetry at the time of primary prostate permanent implant (pPPI) using MRI of the shrunken prostate at the time of failure ( tf ). (2) To compare cold spot mapping with sextant-biopsy mapping at tf. Material and methods Twenty-four patients were referred for biopsy-proven local failure (LF) after pPPI. Multiparametric MRI and combined-sextant biopsy with a central review of the pathology at tf were systematically performed. A model of the shrinking pattern was defined as a Volumetric Change Factor (VCF) as a function of time from time of pPPI ( t0 ). An isotropic expansion to both prostate volume (PV) and seed position (SP) coordinates determined at tf was performed using a validated algorithm using the VCF. Results pPPI CT-based evaluation (at 4 weeks) vs. MR-based evaluation: Mean D90% was 145.23 ± 19.16 Gy [100.0–167.5] vs. 85.28 ± 27.36 Gy [39–139] ( p = 0.001), respectively. Mean V100% was 91.6 ± 7.9% [70–100%] vs. 73.1 ± 13.8% [55–98%] ( p = 0.0006), respectively. Seventy-seven per cent of the pathologically positive sextants were classified as cold. Conclusions Patients with biopsy-proven LF had poorer implantation quality when evaluated by MRI several years after implantation. There is a strong relationship between microscopic involvement at tf and cold spots.