The Unique Issues With Brachytherapy in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.
Gynecologic carcinomas, including cervical cancer, present a significant burden on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Brachytherapy plays an integral role in the treatment of gynecologic carcinomas, as it is essential for both curative and palliative treatment. However, there are numerous geographic and economic barriers to providing brachytherapy to cancer patients in LMICs. This article examines the role and delivery of brachytherapy in gynecological cancer treatment; brachytherapy capacity in LMICs, including infrastructure, equipment, and human resources considerations; commissioning, training, and clinical implementation of brachytherapy in LMICs; other challenges, and strategies for improvement in brachytherapy delivery in LMICs, including innovation and current and upcoming international initiatives.
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Electronic address: Surbhi.grover@uphs.upenn.edu.
Surbhi
S
Grover
Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI.
John
J
Longo
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA.
John
J
Einck
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.
Priya
P
Puri
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA.
Derek
D
Brown
Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke Cancer Institute, Durham, NC.
Junzo
J
Chino
Department of Radiation Oncology, Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
Umesh
U
Mahantshetty
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA.
Catheryn
C
Yashar
Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI.
Beth
B
Erickson
D001918:Brachytherapy; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*