Brachytherapy / Internal Radiation

What is High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy?

HDR afterloader brachytherapy is an exciting technological advance which allows to treat cancerous tissues with PRECISION HIGH DOSE in SHORT time, and less radiation to healthy tissues ? Therefore, better chance to control cancer with less injury to healthy organs.

How is HDR brachytherapy performed?

This afterloader unit contains a high activity radiation source (Iridium?192), housed within a shielded compartment. Unloaded (blank) applicators are positioned in the patient and are connected to the unit with pliable hollow tubes. The radiation source is loaded into the applicator via the hollow tubes, by a remote control. Computerized safety checks insure proper positioning of the sources and safe delivery of radiation. The applicator is removed after the radiation delivery is completed.

What are the advantages of HDR brachytherapy?

1. Out-patient based treatments
2. Patient comfort
3. Short treatment time
4. Minimal side effects during the procedure
5. Minimal recovery time -
6. More precise, optimized radiation dose
7. Highly reproducible
8. Lessened patient anxiety
9. Eliminates radiation exposure to the personnel/staff
10. Patient can go home with no special precautions of radiation safety Conventional brachytherapy procedures on the other hand require prolonged hospitalization (3 days or more), in an isolated room, restricted to bed with special radiation precautions and associated with anxiety.

How long has brachytherapy been in use and what does High Dose Rate Brachytherapy mean?

Shortly after Marie and Pierre Curie discovered radium in 1898, Brachytherapy was first performed successfully to treat skin cancer on the face, by directly applying radioactive material to the affected site. Low Dose Rate brachytherapy typically required 40-70 hours of therapy, prolonged hospitalization and strict bed rest. In contrast, High Dose Rate brachytherapy delivers very high dose in a few minutes.

What are the indications for HDR brachytherapy treatment ?

Cancers of the breast, head and neck, uterus, cervix, vagina, genitourinary sites, soft tissues, pediatric, lung, esophagus, trachea, bile duct, brain, skin etc.