of brachytherapy
Disadvantages of brachytherapy Many of the sources used in brachytherapy emit gamma rays and nursing and medical staff may be exposed inadvertently to low doses of radiation from the patient….
for brachytherapy
Indications for brachytherapy The extent of the neoplasm must be known precisely as treatment is often given to a relatively small volume and ‘geographic miss’ is otherwise likely. The site…
of brachytherapy
Advantages of brachytherapy The probability of local tumour control increases with increasing radiation dose, however, so does the probability of normal tissue damage. Brachytherapy allows the delivery of a highly…
Introduction
Introduction The use of discrete gamma ray sources to irradiate tissues is usually referred to as brachytherapy and falls into three distinct applications. Interstitial therapy is where the sources are…
Brachytherapy
Introduction Indications for brachytherapy Advantages of brachytherapy Disadvantages of brachytherapy Radionuclides in brachytherapy Gamma emitters Radioactivity Half-life Material properties Half-life and specification of source strength Absorbed dose Gamma emitters …
plan checking
Treatment plan checking A treatment planning system will be tested during commissioning and this will include evaluating correct data transfer to the record and verify network and treatment unit, and…
techniques
Special techniques Over the past 20 years, highly specialist treatment techniques have been developed often with dedicated treatment machines. Although often some form of the treatment can be delivered on…
between kilovoltage and electron therapy
Differences between kilovoltage and electron therapy While both modalities are suited for superficial treatments, the mechanism of dose deposition is different, resulting in clinically significant differences in the features of…
photon therapy
Chapter 8). Maximum dose is deposited at the surface and the 90% dose level will be approximately 2 mm deep for a 60 kV beam up to 10 mm deep at 220 kV. The…
