Advanced
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
brachytherapy
Pronunciation: BRAK-ee-ther-ah-pee
Internal radiation therapy using radioactive sources placed directly in or near tumor tissue.
Full Definition
Brachytherapy is a form of radiotherapy where sealed radioactive sources are placed inside or very close to the area requiring treatment. In head and neck oncology, this technique allows for high-dose radiation delivery to localized tumors while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissues. Common applications include treatment of tongue cancers, lip cancers, and selected oropharyngeal malignancies. The procedure requires specialized training and strict radiation safety protocols.
Usage
Usage note: Often hyphenated as 'brachy-therapy' in older texts; current preference is single word.
In Context
- "Brachytherapy was selected over external beam radiation to minimize dose to the parotid glands." — Treatment recommendation
- "The patient tolerated the brachytherapy implant procedure without immediate complications." — Progress note
Also known as
internal radiation therapy
interstitial radiotherapy
Contrasted with
external beam radiation
teletherapy
Don't confuse with
external beam radiotherapy
stereotactic radiosurgery