title: Brachytherapy in pelvic malignancies: a review for radiologists.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Hospital Auxilio Mutuo, Hato Rey, PR, 00919, USA. rafomd@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Rafael A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Vicens
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR, USA.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital Auxilio Mutuo, Hato Rey, PR, USA.
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sheplan
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, University of Virgina, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Cody
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mayo
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mayo
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Corey
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jensen
mesh_terms: D001918:Brachytherapy; D006801:Humans; D010386:Pelvic Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*
keywords: Brachytherapy; Brachytherapy complications; Brachytherapy imaging; Radiology