Brachytherapy
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Brachytherapy
Brachytherapy (Internal Radiotherapy)
- Definition: A form of radiotherapy where a radioactive source is placed inside or next to the tumor, delivering high doses directly to the target with rapid dose fall-off to spare surrounding tissues.
- Other Names: Internal radiation, sealed source therapy.
Types of Brachytherapy
Type
Description
Intracavitary
Source placed within a body cavity (e.g., uterus, vagina)
Interstitial
Source implanted directly into tissues (e.g., prostate, tongue)
Surface (Mold)
Surface (Mold) Source placed over the tumor surface
Dose Rate Categories
Type
Description
LDR (Low-Dose Rate)
Continuous low-dose over hours to days (e.g., Cs-137, Ir-192)
HDR (High-Dose Rate)
High-dose in short bursts (minutes per session, e.g., Ir-192)
PDR (Pulsed-Dose Rate)
Combines features of LDR and HDR
Common Indications
- Gynecological cancers (cervix, endometrium, vagina)
- Prostate cancer
- Breast cancer (boost or partial breast irradiation)
- Head and neck, esophagus, soft tissue tumors (select cases)
Advantages
- Very high local dose with minimal exposure to surrounding organs
- Short treatment duration (especially HDR)
- Can be used alone or with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT)