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Encyclopedia of Radiation Oncology pp 386Cite as

Intracavitary Brachytherapy

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Definition

Brachytherapy, derived from the Greek term for “close” therapy, refers to placing a radiation source in or close to the tumor region. Intracavitary means the placement of the brachytherapy delivery device in a body cavity, such as in the vagina for endometrial cancer, as opposed to directly into tissue. With endometrial cancer, brachytherapy is often used to treat the vaginal cuff in postoperative patients to allow a higher dose to this region with limited side effects.

Brachytherapy sources are contained by dedicated applicators designed for cervical, endometrial, and vaginal as well as nasopharyngeal cancers. Nowadays they are made of carbon, plastic (MRI compatible), or metal (MRI compatible when made of Titanium): Standardized: Fletcher-type with intrauterine catheter and two vaginal catheters with ovoids, Stockholm type with intrauterine tube and endovaginal ring, or individualized Pierquin-Chassagne type individualized molds.

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Brachytherapy: High Dose...

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Drexel University, 216 North Broad Street, 19102, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Dr. Christin A. Knowlton

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, Marshfield Clinic, 1000 North Oak Avenue, 54449, Marshfield, WI, USA

    Dr. Michelle Kolton Mackay

  3. Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, Leuven, 3000, Belgium

    Prof. Erik van Limbergen

Authors
  1. Dr. Christin A. Knowlton
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  2. Dr. Michelle Kolton Mackay
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  3. Prof. Erik van Limbergen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Christin A. Knowlton .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Distinguished University Professor, Hylda Cohn/American Cancer Professor Of Clinical Oncology, Professor of Radiation Oncology, Drexel University College of Medicine, MS 200, 216 North Broad St., Philadelphia, PA, 19102, USA

    Luther W. Brady MD

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157-0001, USA

    Theodore E. Yaeger MD

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© 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Knowlton, C.A., Mackay, M.K., van Limbergen, E. (2013). Intracavitary Brachytherapy. In: Brady, L.W., Yaeger, T.E. (eds) Encyclopedia of Radiation Oncology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-85516-3_488

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-85516-3_488

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-85513-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-85516-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine

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