Australian Government - Department of Health and Ageing

Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC)

1089.1 - Review of Interim Funded Service: Brachytherapy for the Treatment of Prostate Cancer

Reference No.

1089.1

Application NameReview of Interim Funded Service: Brachytherapy for the Treatment of Prostate Cancer
Advisory PanelDr Fred Khafagi
Chair
MSAC member
Dr Allan McKenzie
Deputy Chair
MSAC Member (September 2009 to December 2010)
Mr Bill McHugh
Consumers Health Forum
Professor Tony Costello
Prostate Specialist
Professor Anatoly Rozenfeld
Medical Radiation Physics
Dr Ross Cartmill
Urologist
Professor Gillian Duchesne
Radiation Oncologist
Date Received by MSAC Secretariatn/a
Stage 1 - EligibilityEligible
Stage 2 - AssessmentCompleted
Stage 3 - Formulation of Advice to the MinisterMSAC supports public funding for low dose-rate 125I brachytherapy for localised prostate cancer (clinical stage T1 or T2) with a prostate specific antigen (PSA) level of 10 ng/ml or less and a Gleason score of 7 or less.

MSAC agreed that brachytherapy is appropriate as a first-line monotherapy where the Gleason score is <(3+4) = 7, and if used for Gleason (4+3) = 7, should be part of combined modality treatment; such advice could form part of the MBS Explanatory Notes.

Stage 4 - DecisionMSAC considered this assessment on 2 December 2010.
The Minister noted MSAC's advice 22 March 2011.
Stage 5 - ImplementationIn progress

Page currency, Latest update: 06 May, 2011

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