Brachytherapy

The word “brachytherapy” means “short therapy”, appropriately implying that the radiation is limited to short distances. This results in decreased toxicity to normal tissues and also allows a higher radiation dose to the tumor.

Internal radiation therapy (or brachytherapy) uses radiation that is placed very close to or inside the tumor.

The radiation source is usually sealed in a small holder called an implant. Implants may be in the form of thin wires, plastic tubes called catheters, ribbons, capsules, or seeds.

The implant is put directly into the body. Internal radiation therapy may require a brief hospital stay. The radiation is emitted outward, unlike external beam radiotherapy, where radiation travels through normal tissue in order to reach the tumor.

The word “brachytherapy” means “short therapy”, appropriately implying that the radiation is limited to short distances. This results in decreased toxicity to normal tissues and also allows a higher radiation dose to the tumor.