Didactics-Brachetherapy

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The speaker discusses the importance of brachytherapy in the treatment of cervix cancer. They refer to a study that found patients who received radiation therapy plus brachytherapy had better overall survival compared to those who received radiation therapy alone. The speaker emphasizes that brachytherapy is an essential aspect of cervix cancer treatment, accounting for 50% of the overall dose. They mention that the utilization of brachytherapy has decreased, particularly in the United States, due to the belief that it can be replaced by other treatment methods, but emphasize that brachytherapy cannot be replaced and should be utilized if possible. The speaker then discusses the advances in brachytherapy, specifically the shift from 2D or 3D brachytherapy to image-guided brachytherapy using CT or MRI. They explain how image-guided brachytherapy helps in defining the disease and normal tissues, as well as shaping the treatment. The speaker also explains the change in dosing approach, focusing on high-risk clinical tumor volume (HRC-TV) rather than the traditional point A dosing. They discuss the importance of incorporating interstitial techniques, such as adding needles, to reduce dose to normal tissues and improve outcomes. The speaker concludes by highlighting the importance of monitoring and limiting doses to normal tissues, including rectum, sigmoid, and vagina, to minimize toxicity and improve patient quality of life.

Asset Subtitle

Anuja Jhingran
January 2023

Keywords

brachytherapy

cervix cancer

radiation therapy

image-guided brachytherapy

interstitial techniques