Didactics-Introduction to Interstitial Brachytherapy. Role in Vulvo-Vaginal Malignancy

Introduction to Interstitial Brachytherapy. Role in Vulvo-Vaginal Malignancy

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Interstitial brachytherapy is a type of radiation treatment where the radiation source is placed near or inside the tumor, delivering a high dose to the tumor while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. It is commonly used in gynecological cancers such as cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancer. In cervical cancer, interstitial brachytherapy is used when standard applicators cannot be used or when there is peripheral disease. For vaginal cancer, it is used for lesions larger than 5mm and for vulvar cancer, it can be used as a radical or boost treatment. Image-guided brachytherapy, which uses modern imaging techniques such as CT or MRI, has improved the accuracy of placement of the radiation source. Studies have shown promising outcomes with interstitial brachytherapy, although late toxicity can be a concern. Proper patient selection and a multidisciplinary approach are crucial for optimal results.

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Subhas Pandit
January 2024

Keywords

Interstitial brachytherapy

radiation treatment

gynecological cancers

cervical cancer

vaginal cancer