Brachytherapy, also called internal radiation, is an advanced cancer treatment that utilizes radioactive seeds or sources by placing them in or near the tumor itself. This enables a dose of radiation to be delivered to the tumor while reducing the radiation exposure to healthy tissue. Brachytherapy may be used alone or in combination with other radiation therapy procedures.
Brachytherapy treatment may be delivered in the form of small radioactive seeds left permanently in the tumor or a radioactive source is placed through catheters, needles, or other appliances into the tumor for a brief period of time and removed. Brachytherapy may be delivered in a high dose or a low dose. The dose of radiation through brachytherapy depends on the size of the tumor, location and the sensitivity to radiation.

Permanent Seed Implants  
As the first program in the region to offer prostate seed implants in 1999, the Radiation Oncology department has performed 1600 prostate seed implants under the leadership of radiation oncologist, Daniel Green, M.D.

In the procedure, radioactive palladium-103 seeds are implanted into the prostate gland under ultrasound guidance. The number of seeds and where they are placed is determined by a computer-generated treatment plan tailored for each patient. Anywhere from 40 to 100 seeds are commonly implanted. Seed implants are relatively low-energy sources.

A radiation oncologist and urologist perform the procedure together. Both physicians are actively involved in all aspects of the implantation, from the planning to the post-operative care. During the procedure, the urologist provides ultrasound guidance and the radiation oncologist places the radioactive seeds.
The implants remain in place permanently, and become biologically inert (no longer useful) after a period of months. This technique allows radiation to be delivered to the prostate over a period of time with limited damage to surrounding tissues.

High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy  

High Dose Rate Brachytherapy uses a radioactive source to eliminate cancerous cells similar to other radiation therapies. With this procedure, an applicator is positioned in or near the tumor and filled with radioactive material (iridium-192) for 5 to 15 minutes. Usually 2-5 treatments are given over a period of days or weeks.

A precise dosage of radiation, as prescribed by the radiation oncologist, is automatically delivered through the applicator. The radiation treatment staff constantly monitor treatment and maintain contact with patients throughout the procedure.

After treatment, the system returns the radioactive source into the protective storage unit. For most treatment sites, patients should be able to return home and normal activity immediately following treatment. There are no side effects following this procedure, for example nausea, hair loss or diarrhea. Patients are not radioactive during or after the treatment.

HDR brachytherapy is used to treat lung, breast, prostate and gynecologic cancers.