title: Classics in brachytherapy: Margaret Cleaves introduces gynecologic brachytherapy.
abstract: Intracavitary treatment of gynecologic cancers has been the anchor of brachytherapy, and perhaps the greatest success of radiotherapy, for over a century. The woman who first performed the procedure was neither a surgeon nor radiologist, but an electrotherapeutist who began her career as an alienist. She pursued a prolific academic career despite being disabled by a disease that is no longer recognized. The fascinating life of Margaret Cleaves, the initiator of gynecologic brachytherapy, is recounted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Levine Cancer Center, Worcester, MA 01605, USA. aronowitz@radium-therapy.com
authors.forename: Jesse N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Aronowitz
authors.forename: Shoshana V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Aronowitz
authors.forename: Roger F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Robison
mesh_terms: D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000266:history*; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000266:history* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D014481:United States