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Uses


Applications of brachytherapy in cancer care

Brachytherapy has demonstrated excellent patient outcomes for suitable tumors in many different body sites.1-6

  • Brachytherapy can be used in combination with other therapies such as surgery, EBRT or chemotherapy, particularly when the tumor is too large or is not easily accessible.
  • Brachytherapy has been most widely applied in the treatment of cervical,7 prostate,8 breast9 and skin10 cancers, demonstrating excellent patient outcomes across all tumor types.
  • Brachytherapy can also be used to treat tumors in several other body sites - explore in the image below.




Standard of care

First practiced over 100 years ago, today’s brachytherapy utilizes a combination of state-of-the-art imaging, computer-based planning and treatment delivery technologies to deliver optimal radiotherapy.

  • Brachytherapy is incorporated into practice guidelines throughout the world and is a standard of care for cervical cancer.
  • Brachytherapy is also widely used as a treatment option for prostate cancer and has the potential to become a standard of care for other tumors, such as breast cancer.11


Learn more:


References
  1. Viswanathan AN, et al. In Devlin PM (Ed), Brachytherapy: applications and techniques. Philadelphia, PA, LWW. 2007.
  2. Pickles T, Keyes M, Morris WJ. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2010;76(1):43–9.
  3. Haie-Meder C, Chargari C, Rey A, et al. Radiother Oncol 2009;93(2):316–21.
  4. Galalae R, Martinez A, Mate T, et al. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2004;58(4):1048–55.
  5. Hoskin PJ, Motohashi K, Bownes P, et al. Radiother Oncol 2007;84(2):114–20.
  6. Pieters BR, de Back DZ, Koning CCE, Zwinderman AH. Radiother Oncol 2009;93(2):168–73.
  7. Gerbaulet A, Pötter R, Haie-Meder, C. 14;301–363 In: The GEC ESTRO Handbook of Brachytherapy. Gerbaulet A, Pötter R, Mazeron J-J, Meertens H and van Limbergen E (Eds). Leuven, Belgium, ACCO. 2005.
  8. Ash D. 20;473–480 In: The GEC ESTRO Handbook of Brachytherapy. Gerbaulet A, Pötter R, Mazeron J-J, Meertens H and van Limbergen E (Eds). Leuven, Belgium, ACCO. 2005.
  9. Van Limbergen E & Mazeron, J-J. 18;435–454 In: The GEC ESTRO Handbook of Brachytherapy. Gerbaulet A, Pötter R, Mazeron J-J, Meertens H and van Limbergen E (Eds). Leuven, Belgium, ACCO. 2005.
  10. Van Limbergen E & Mazeron, J-J. 28;573–584 In: The GEC ESTRO Handbook of Brachytherapy. Gerbaulet A, Pötter R, Mazeron J-J, Meertens H and van Limbergen E (Eds). Leuven, Belgium, ACCO. 2005.
  11. Musmacher J, Ghaly M, Satchwill K. J Clin Oncol 2006;24(18):15543.
Page last updated on 14 January 2011.

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