Brachytherapy is a treatment method in which sealed radioactive seeds or sources are placed in or near tumors. The radioactive sources deliver high local doses of radiation to tumor cells while minimizing the dose to surrounding normal tissue.
The depth of penetration of the emitted radiation, the type of radiation emitted and the time course over which the radiation is delivered to achieve a particular dose are determined by the characteristics of the isotope selected.
There are two primary ways of using brachytherapy in treating brain metastases:
- Treat patients aggressively for an initial tumor
- Provide radiation boosts following external beam radiation or surgery
Does it work?
The use of brachytherapy in combination with other treatments which remove a substantial portion of the cancerous tumor offers promise. It can also be used when a met recurs.
What are the disadvantages?
While less invasive delivery systems are being investigated, some sort of invasive surgical procedure is required for placement of the radiation seed.
