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Brachytherapy in pelvic malignancies: a review for radiologists

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Abstract

Brachytherapy, also known as sealed source or internal radiation therapy, involves placement of a radioactive source immediately adjacent to or within tumor, thus enabling delivery of a localized high dose of radiation. Compared with external beam radiation which must first pass through non-target tissues, brachytherapy results in less radiation dose to normal tissues. In the past decade, brachytherapy use has markedly increased, thus radiologists are encountering brachytherapy devices and their associated post-treatment changes to increasing degree. This review will present a variety of brachytherapy devices that radiologists may encounter during diagnostic pelvic imaging with a focus on prostate and gynecologic malignancies. The reader will become familiar with the function, correct position, and potential complications of brachytherapy devices in an effort to improve diagnostic reporting and communication with clinicians.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Hospital Auxilio Mutuo, Hato Rey, PR, 00919, USA

    Rafael A. Vicens

  2. School of Medicine, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR, USA

    Joshua Rodriguez

  3. Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital Auxilio Mutuo, Hato Rey, PR, USA

    Lawrence Sheplan

  4. Department of Diagnostic Imaging, University of Virgina, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Cody Mayo III

  5. Department of Radiation Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Lauren Mayo

  6. Department of Radiology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Corey Jensen

Authors
  1. Rafael A. Vicens
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  2. Joshua Rodriguez
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  3. Lawrence Sheplan
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  4. Cody Mayo III
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  5. Lauren Mayo
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  6. Corey Jensen
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Correspondence to Rafael A. Vicens.

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Vicens, R.A., Rodriguez, J., Sheplan, L. et al. Brachytherapy in pelvic malignancies: a review for radiologists. Abdom Imaging 40, 2645–2659 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-015-0407-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-015-0407-y

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