Po72

Purpose Radiation management literature focused on optimizing care for patients with intellectual disability is sparse. We add our experience to the literature with the goal to improve care to this vulnerable patient population. To this end, we report three cases of prostate cancer in patients with limited cognition who were treated with low dose rate (LDR) prostate brachytherapy to highlight an effective strategy to deliver optimal care to this group of patients. Materials and Methods This is a case series of three adult male patients with limited cognition each of whom developed prostate cancer which was managed primarily with LDR brachytherapy. Results Patient #1: A 53-year-old male with favorable intermediate-risk prostate cancer (PSA 8.8 ng/ml, Grade Group 2), Patient #2: a 68-year-old male with unfavorable intermediate risk prostate cancer (PSA 12.6 ng/ml, Grade Group 3), and Patient #3: a 52-year-old male with high-risk prostate cancer (PSA 24 ng/ml, Grade Group 1), all of whom had intellectual disability, were evaluated for radiation therapy. A thorough discussion occurred with each patient and their legal guardian about prostate cancer therapy options including surgery versus radiation treatment with or without androgen deprivation therapy. Radiation therapy treatment strategies presented included low dose rate brachytherapy versus external beam radiation treatment including SBRT to a total dose of 3625 cGy in 5 fractions every other day or a moderately hypofractionated regimen to a total dose of 7000 cGy in 28 daily fractions Monday to Friday. In each case, a shared decision was made for each patient to undergo interstitial prostate seed implant. Of note, two out of the three patients lived more than an hour away from the radiation treatment center and relied on family support for transportation needs. Each patient initially underwent a prostate volume study with a transrectal ultrasound to 1) determine the dimensions of the prostate and 2) develop a plan for radiation dose coverage of the prostate with interstitial Cs-131 brachytherapy seeds. Each patient then underwent seed implantation under anesthesia followed by fluoroscopy and post-implant CT, to assess for appropriate seed placement as well as the post-implant dosimetry. Patient #1 received a total prescription dose of 110 Gy to the prostate D90 using 61 sources each with a strength of 1.6 U per seed for a total strength of 97.6 U and at 14 months follow up, his PSA had decreased to 1.7 ng/ml from 8.8 ng/ml. Patient #2 received a total prescription dose of 100 Gy to the prostate D90 using 59 sources each with a strength of 1.43 U per seed for a total strength of 84.37 U, and at 38 months follow up, his PSA had decreased to 0.018 ng/ml from 12.6 ng/ml. Patient #3 received 115 Gy to the prostate D90 using 90 sources each with a strength of 1.8 U per seed for a total of 162 U, and at 34 months follow up, his PSA had decreased to 0.8 ng/mL from 24 ng/ml. In all three cases, treatment was completed without complications and there was no CTCAE grade 3 or higher toxicity noted. Conclusions In patients with limited cognition with select non-metastatic prostate cancer, low dose rate brachytherapy is an excellent treatment modality. It provides adequate tumor control with acceptable radiation induced toxicities. It reduces the transportation burden associated with multiple treatment sessions by requiring only two visits to a radiation treatment center. The use of sedation reduces the challenge associated with patient immobilization encountered with external beam radiation treatments. And, it is less invasive than surgery. These advantages for LDR brachytherapy are extremely useful for patients with limited cognition. Thus, LDR brachytherapy should be strongly considered for this patient population when applicable. Radiation management literature focused on optimizing care for patients with intellectual disability is sparse. We add our experience to the literature with the goal to improve care to this vulnerable patient population. To this end, we report three cases of prostate cancer in patients with limited cognition who were treated with low dose rate (LDR) prostate brachytherapy to highlight an effective strategy to deliver optimal care to this group of patients. This is a case series of three adult male patients with limited cognition each of whom developed prostate cancer which was managed primarily with LDR brachytherapy. Patient #1: A 53-year-old male with favorable intermediate-risk prostate cancer (PSA 8.8 ng/ml, Grade Group 2), Patient #2: a 68-year-old male with unfavorable intermediate risk prostate cancer (PSA 12.6 ng/ml, Grade Group 3), and Patient #3: a 52-year-old male with high-risk prostate cancer (PSA 24 ng/ml, Grade Group 1), all of whom had intellectual disability, were evaluated for radiation therapy. A thorough discussion occurred with each patient and their legal guardian about prostate cancer therapy options including surgery versus radiation treatment with or without androgen deprivation therapy. Radiation therapy treatment strategies presented included low dose rate brachytherapy versus external beam radiation treatment including SBRT to a total dose of 3625 cGy in 5 fractions every other day or a moderately hypofractionated regimen to a total dose of 7000 cGy in 28 daily fractions Monday to Friday. In each case, a shared decision was made for each patient to undergo interstitial prostate seed implant. Of note, two out of the three patients lived more than an hour away from the radiation treatment center and relied on family support for transportation needs. Each patient initially underwent a prostate volume study with a transrectal ultrasound to 1) determine the dimensions of the prostate and 2) develop a plan for radiation dose coverage of the prostate with interstitial Cs-131 brachytherapy seeds. Each patient then underwent seed implantation under anesthesia followed by fluoroscopy and post-implant CT, to assess for appropriate seed placement as well as the post-implant dosimetry. Patient #1 received a total prescription dose of 110 Gy to the prostate D90 using 61 sources each with a strength of 1.6 U per seed for a total strength of 97.6 U and at 14 months follow up, his PSA had decreased to 1.7 ng/ml from 8.8 ng/ml. Patient #2 received a total prescription dose of 100 Gy to the prostate D90 using 59 sources each with a strength of 1.43 U per seed for a total strength of 84.37 U, and at 38 months follow up, his PSA had decreased to 0.018 ng/ml from 12.6 ng/ml. Patient #3 received 115 Gy to the prostate D90 using 90 sources each with a strength of 1.8 U per seed for a total of 162 U, and at 34 months follow up, his PSA had decreased to 0.8 ng/mL from 24 ng/ml. In all three cases, treatment was completed without complications and there was no CTCAE grade 3 or higher toxicity noted. In patients with limited cognition with select non-metastatic prostate cancer, low dose rate brachytherapy is an excellent treatment modality. It provides adequate tumor control with acceptable radiation induced toxicities. It reduces the transportation burden associated with multiple treatment sessions by requiring only two visits to a radiation treatment center. The use of sedation reduces the challenge associated with patient immobilization encountered with external beam radiation treatments. And, it is less invasive than surgery. These advantages for LDR brachytherapy are extremely useful for patients with limited cognition. Thus, LDR brachytherapy should be strongly considered for this patient population when applicable.