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Brachytherapy

 

 

 

WHAT IS BRACHYTHERAPY ?

Innovative radiation therapies to target cancer cells, sparing healthy tissues and organs.

 

High-Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy is a type of internal radiation therapy that delivers high doses of radiation from implants placed close to, or inside, the tumor(s) in the body.This technique ensures the maximum radiation dose is given to cancerous tissues, while minimizing exposure to the surrounding healthy tissue.

 

HDR Remote Afterloading Systems, together with more recent advancements in three dimensional imaging modalities, computerized treatment planning systems and delivery equipment has made brachytherapy a safe and effective treatment for many types of cancer today.

 

TYPES OF BRACHYTHERAPY

 

1.HDR Remote Afterloading Systems, together with more recent advancements in three dimensional imaging modalities, computerized treatment planning systems and delivery

2. Contact Brachytherapy involves - Intracavitary brachytherapy- placement of the radiation source in a space next to the target tissue. This space may be a body cavity such as the cervix, uterus, and vagina. Intraluminal brachytherapy - a body lumen such as the trachea, oesophagus or surface brachytherapy externally such as the skin.

 

HOW DOES HDR BRACHYTHERAPY WORK?

 

During treatment, doctors insert tiny, hollow catheters directly into tumors to deliver a precise, three-dimensional dose of radiation. Next, after verification of the catheter positions, Treatment planning is carried out using CT Scans& treatment planning computers .Then treatment is delivered .by connecting these catheters to a HDR AfterLoading Machine. Computer guidance -controls how far the pellet goes into the catheter and how long the pellet stays in the catheter to release its radiation dose. With a few well-placed catheters, HDR brachytherapy can provide a very precise treatment for cancer in just a few minutes.

 

ADVANTAGES OF HDR BRACHYTHERAPY

 

1. Precise & Effective treatment with minimized side effects

A key feature of brachytherapy is that the irradiation only affects a much localized area around the radiation sources. Exposure to radiation of healthy tissues further away from the sources is therefore reduced & the tumour can be treated with very high doses of localized radiation, whilst reducing the probability of unnecessary damage to surrounding healthy tissues.

 

2. Shorter treatment time for greater patient convenience

Brachytherapy offers a quicker, more effective treatment. For many cancer types, the entire brachytherapy treatment takes 5 to 7 days, instead of 5 to 7 weeks for external beam radiation therapy. Patients typically have to make fewer visits to the radiotherapy clinic compared with EBRT, and the treatment is often performed on an outpatient basis. This makes treatment accessible and convenient for many patients. Depending on the type and stage of cancer, brachytherapy may be combined with other treatments, which can vary treatment times from 2 to 3 days.

 

3. Organ Preservation

In many cases, brachytherapy is a promising alternative to surgical removal of a tumor or the affected organ. E.g. Breast cancer & Prostate cancer & so preserves the organ & maintains the cosmoses.

 

BODY SITES IN WHICH BRACHYTHERAPY IS USED TO TREAT CANCER

 

Brachytherapy is commonly used to treat cancers of the cervix, prostate, breast, skin. Brachytherapy can also be used in the treatment of tumors of head and neck region - lip, floor of mouth, tongue, nasopharynx and oropharynx, respiratory tract - trachea, bronchi, digestive tract - oesophagus, gall bladder, bile ducts, rectum anal canal, urinary tract - bladder, urethra, penis, female reproductive tract - uterus, vagina, vulva & soft tissue sarcomas.

 

HDR BRACHYTHERAPY AT AHB

 

The High Dose Rate (HDR) Remote Afterloading program was introduced at Apollo Hospitals, Bangalore in March 2009 and many patients have been treated with this system. Apollo Hospitals, Bangalore presently equipped with the GammaMed iX HDR brachytherapy unit (Dec 2010) along with most recent computer aided treatment Planning system the Brachyvision. Intra-cavitary, intra-luminal & Interstitial implants using Templates for Cervix, Prostate & "freehand" implants in a large variety of sites including Breast have been performed.

Nursing care is possible with HDR brachytherapy treatment techniques compared to that of low dose rate treatment Short treatment times, makes the patients feel more comfortable. Fractionated Brachytherapy between one to five fractions leave the patients radiation free between HDR brachytherapy treatments. This facilitates nursing care and meeting of the family members and friends & favours outpatient treatment in some cases.

Brachytherapy work is being carried out by all the individual consultants of the Hospital. In addition the following special Teams operate for the following specified sites at Apollo Hospitals, Bangalore.

 

Breast Brachytherapy Team

 

• Dr. BKM Reddy, MD; Sr. Consultant in Radiation Oncology
• Dr. Anil Kamath, MCh, Sr. Consultant in Surgical Oncology
• Mr. Senthil Nathan, Sr. Medical Physicist

 

Prostate Brachytherapy Team

 

• Dr. Nissar Syed, MD; Director, Radiation Oncology, Long Beach Memorial Medical Centre & Visiting Consultant in Radiation Oncology
• Dr.BKM Reddy, MD; Sr. Consultant in Radiation Oncology
• Dr. Deepak Bolbandi, MS, MCh, Sr. Consultant in Urology
• Dr. Amitha, MD, Sr. Consultant in Radiology
• Mr. Senthil Nathan, Sr. Medical Physicist