In 1903, Alexander Graham Bell wrote "There is no reason why a tiny fragment of radium sealed in a fine glass tube should not be inserted into the very heart of the cancer, thus acting directly upon the disease material. Would it not be worthwhile making experiments along this line?"

In 1910, Dr. Young used intraurethral radium for the treatment of prostate cancer, with encouraging results.

In 1930, Dr. Flocks first injected radioactive gold liquid into the prostate for treatment of prostate cancer.

In the early 1970's, Willet Whitmore, M.D. and Basil Hilaris, M.D. from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, were the first physicians to perform prostate seed implants. An abdominal incision was used to implant the seeds directly into the exposed gland.

In 1983, Hans Holm, M.D., University of Copenhagen, Denmark, was the first physician to perform the "closed" or "non-surgical" implant method, which utilized transrectal ultrasound (TRUS).

In 1985, Haakon Ragde, M.D., John Blasko, M.D. and Peter Grimm, D.O. further modified Holm's approach in Seattle, Washington. They began treatment in November 1985.