Robotic Systems for Prostate Cancer Brachytherapy (Robot-Assisted Systems)

In this review the issues of robotic automation for prostate cancer brachytherapy procedure are studied. The main goal of the brachytherapy robotic automation is to improve the effectiveness of treatment which is achieved, primarily, by means of precise location of the radioactive seeds in accordance with the operation plan. The existing robot-assisted systems used for executing brachytherapy under visualization control (ultrasonic scanning, MRI, CT), their advantages and disadvantages are considered. The main directions for developing the robotic automation for brachytherapy are formulated. The article represents the first domestic review of the literature, dedicated to the issue of robotic automation in brachytherapy for the patients suffering from prostate cancer.