Australian Government - Department of Health and Ageing

Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC)

1147 - Implantation of fiducial markers into prostate gland or prostatic surgical bed for radiotherapy

Assessment No

1147

Application NameImplantation of fiducial markers into prostate gland or prostatic surgical bed for radiotherapy
Submission Based Assessment
Description Of InterventionRadio-opaque fiducial markers are implanted into the prostate under the guidance of trans-rectal ultrasound. Two gold seeds are inserted into one side of the prostate and one on the opposite side. This ensures that imaging to conduct a triangulation check to precisely identify the location of the cancer can accurately guide the radiation therapy. The insertion of the seeds is performed by a radiation oncologist or a urologist or a radiologist.
Description Of DiseaseProstate cancer is the most common cancer in men. Just over 16,000 cases of prostate cancer (nearly 30% of male cancers) are diagnosed each year in Australia and it is responsible for approximately 3000 deaths annually. Prostate cancer tends to develop in men over the age of fifty. Patients with localised prostate cancer may be treated with radical prostatectomy or radical radiotherapy.
Disease GroupCancer
Disease Sub GroupProstate
Intervention CategoryInvestigative
Intervention Type
Intervention Sub Type
Received03 May 2010
Stage 2 - Eligibility22 June 2010
Stage 3 - 1st PASC 7 July 2010
Stage 3 - Public CommentRelease Date: 25 July 2011 to 18 August 2011
Stage 3 - 2nd PASC14-15 September 2011
Final DAP Implantation of fiducial markers into prostate gland or prostatic surgical bed for radiotherapy (PDF 368 KB)
Stage 4 - Submission of EvidenceContracted Assessment
Stage 5 - ESC evaluation
Stage 6 - MSAC Appraisal
Stage 6 - MSAC advice
Stage 7 - Noting by Minister
  • advice is not communicated to the Minister until the Minutes of the relevant meeting have been ratified by MSAC members (which may take several weeks)
  • the Minister needs time to properly consider MSAC's advice (and may choose to seek further policy advice from the department before noting the advice)
  • a Government decision to list a service supported by MSAC is taken in the context of other Government priorities: MSAC's support of an application for public funding does not oblige the Government to list the service on the MBS
Stage 8 - Implementation

Page currency, Latest update: 17 October, 2011

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