Modern Brachytherapy

Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2019 Dec;33(6):1011-1025. doi: 10.1016/j.hoc.2019.08.011. Epub 2019 Oct 1.

Abstract

Brachytherapy involves the placement of radioactive sources within or very close to the tumor. This placement allows a high dose of radiotherapy to be delivered to the tumor while sparing the surrounding normal tissue. The delivery of brachytherapy has changed markedly over the years, with newer radioactive sources making delivery safer, image guidance techniques allowing more accurate placement of sources, and advanced planning systems allowing brachytherapy to be truly adaptive. This article explores the most modern techniques and current uses of brachytherapy in the treatment of gynecological, prostate, breast, rectal, and skin cancers.

Keywords: Brachytherapy; Breast cancer; Cervix cancer; Normal tissue sparing; Prostate cancer; Radionuclide; Rectal cancer; Skin cancer.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Brachytherapy / methods*
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Organs at Risk / radiation effects*
  • Radiotherapy Dosage
  • Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / methods*