Permanent brachytherapy

In another type of treatment for prostate cancer, long needles containing iridium-192 are placed in the tumor. However, the needles are removed after 5 to 10 min, depending on the activity of the iridium isotope. Compared to permanent brachytherapy, temporary brachytherapy can deliver a higher dose of radiation over a shorter time. The procedure may be repeated in a few days. 

The two commonly used methods for radiation therapy are external-beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy.26 In external-beam radiotherapy, doses of 70 to 75 Gy are delivered in 35 to 41 fractions in patient with low-grade prostate cancer and 75 to 80 Gy for those with intermediate- or high-grade prostate cancer. Brachytherapy involves the permanent implantation of radioactive beads of 145 Gy of 125I or 124 Gy of 103Pd and generally is reserved for individuals with low-risk cancers. 

Pd103 17d Permanent implant brachytherapy for early-stage prostate cancer... 

Low dose rate brachytherapy sources (except eye plaques and permanent implants) Industrial gauges that do not incorporate high activity sources Bone densitometers Static eliminators 1> A/D >0.01... 

Low dose rate brachytherapy eye plaques and permanent implant sources X ray fluorescence (XRF) devices Electron capture devices Mossbauer spectrometry sources Positron emission tomography (PET) check sources 0.01 > A/D and A > exempt ... 

From experimental beginnings, radiation therapy soon developed into a separate branch of medicine, with its own specialists, practices, and standards. X-rays had to be applied from an external machine, but radium could be introduced right into the patient. This approach, known as brachytherapy, was pioneered early in the century. The radium was put in gold needles that were inserted into cancerous tissue, in tubes that were placed in body cavities, or in moulds applied to the outside of the body. During tumour surgery, doctors permanently implanted gold capsules, or seeds, filled with short-lived radon to help kill residual cancerous cells. 

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