The considerable advantage of intracavitary and interstitial radiotherapy is that a high radiation dose can be delivered to a limited target volume. Indeed, recent advances in radiotherapy have made it possible to find more appropriate dose rates and increase the effectiveness of therapy. As a result, there has been a dramatic upswing in brachytherapy in the past decade. Prominent international authors discuss the indications for and techniques of brachytherapy in this volume in the series "Medical Radiology - Diagnostic ...
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The considerable advantage of intracavitary and interstitial radiotherapy is that a high radiation dose can be delivered to a limited target volume. Indeed, recent advances in radiotherapy have made it possible to find more appropriate dose rates and increase the effectiveness of therapy. As a result, there has been a dramatic upswing in brachytherapy in the past decade. Prominent international authors discuss the indications for and techniques of brachytherapy in this volume in the series "Medical Radiology - Diagnostic Imaging and Radiation Oncology". This revolutionary development in interventional radiotherapy was set off by the introduction of new radioisotopes with favourable nuclear physical properties. Other factors were computer-assisted dosimetry and modified afterloading techniques. The advent of new afterloading techniques was especially important since they allow for more flexibility in designing implants and reduce or even eliminate the danger of radiation exposure to surgeons and nursing staff. The international exchange of scientific information in this volume gives a complete picture of all the latest developments. The areas of application particularly discussed are brain tumours and tumours of the head and neck, choroidal melanoma, breast cancer, carcinoma of the anal canal, carcinoma of the prostate, and gynecological malignancies.
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