Medically reviewed by Lorraine Portelance, MD, Radiation Oncology Program.

Brachytherapy, also called internal radiation therapy, places a radioactive source inside or very close to a tumor, allowing radiation to be delivered directly to the cancer while limiting exposure to nearby healthy tissues. This is in contrast to external beam radiation therapy, which involves aiming radiation beams at a tumor from an external machine. Radioactive sources used in brachytherapy may be placed through specialized applicators, catheters, plaques, or small implants often called seeds.

What does brachytherapy treat?

We offer brachytherapy for several types of cancer, including:

Patients with other types of cancer may also benefit from brachytherapy.

How is brachytherapy performed?

During a brachytherapy procedure, a surgeon carefully implants the radiation source into the body through an applicator or a small, flexible tube known as a catheter. Depending on the patient’s cancer and diagnosis, the radiation source may be placed:

Directly into the tumor (interstitial brachytherapy)
Into an existing cavity, such as the vagina, or a surgically created cavity (intracavity brachytherapy)
Onto the eye, in cases of ocular melanoma (surface brachytherapy)

What are the advantages of brachytherapy?

With brachytherapy, radiation oncologists are able to administer a high dose of radiation to a tumor while reducing exposure to the surrounding healthy tissues. This, in turn, can help reduce the side effects that might otherwise occur if healthy cells sustain damage from the radiation. Other advantages of brachytherapy include:

Depending on the cancer type and treatment approach, brachytherapy may allow treatment to be completed in fewer visits than some forms of external beam radiation therapy. Treatment schedules vary based on the type of cancer and brachytherapy technique being used.
Some brachytherapy treatments can reduce the number of visits required compared with longer courses of external beam radiation therapy.
Some patients experience quicker recovery because radiation can be delivered with limited exposure to surrounding healthy tissues.

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What are the types of brachytherapy?

There are two main types of brachytherapy:

Temporary brachytherapy. As its name suggests, temporary brachytherapy involves placing a radiation source inside the body for a specific period of time. High dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy is the type of brachytherapy most frequently used at Moffitt. When this type of brachytherapy is used, a radioactive source is brought close to the cancer cells for a few minutes, then it travels back to the after-loader machine and the applicator is removed.
Permanent brachytherapy. The seed remains in the body permanently, but the radioactivity gradually decreases and eventually no longer provides treatment radiation. The radiation source will continue to weaken every day and will eventually stop emitting radiation altogether.

Does brachytherapy cause side effects?

Any medical treatment has the potential to cause side effects, including brachytherapy. Side effects vary depending on the area being treated and the type of brachytherapy performed.

Moffitt’s approach to brachytherapy

At Moffitt Cancer Center, brachytherapy is one of several advanced treatments provided by our expert radiation oncologists. Each patient’s needs are collaboratively reviewed to determine the best approach to radiation therapy, and every single aspect of a patient’s treatment—from the radiation dosage to the delivery schedule—can be tailored to achieve the best possible outcome. Furthermore, a wide range of supportive care services are also offered at Moffitt, allowing patients to maintain a high quality of life throughout treatment, regardless of which types of treatment they pursue.

Consultations with our radiation oncologists are available with or without referrals. To learn more about brachytherapy or any of our other precisely targeted treatments, call Moffitt at 1-888-663-3488 or submit a new patient registration form online.

References

National Cancer Institute: Brachytherapy to Treat Cancer
RadiologyInfo.org: Brachytherapy

Radiation Therapy

What is Brachytherapy?