title: Clinical indications for brachytherapy.
abstract: Brachytherapy, or placing radioactive sources either temporarily or permanently into or near a malignant tumor, is a long-established cancer treatment method. During the past 25 years, brachytherapy has become safer and more versatile than earlier radium therapy, and its indications have increased dramatically during this period. One estimate is that at least 5-10% of all patients needing radiation therapy require brachytherapy. The site-specific clinical indications and methods for brachytherapy implementation are described.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Erickson
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D001661:Biliary Tract Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000379:methods; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000532:radiotherapy; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D014565:Urogenital Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy