This study provides a review of recent publications on the physics-aspects of dosimetric accuracy in high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy. The discussion of accuracy is primarily concerned with uncertainties, but methods to improve dose conformation to the prescribed intended dose distribution are also noted. The main aim of the paper is to review current practical techniques and methods employed...

PURPOSE To analyze the results obtained in a prospective group of patients with keloid scars treated by high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy with or without surgery. METHODS AND MATERIALS One hundred and sixty-nine patients with keloid scars were treated with HDR brachytherapy between December 1991 and December 1998. One hundred and thirty-four patients were females, and 35 were males. The dist...

Introduction/Background Over the last 2 decades, significant technical advancements have improved the delivery of prostate brachytherapy. The transrectal ultrasound-guided implant technique is the backbone of modern prostate brachytherapy. Whether it is permanent or temporary, ie, low-dose-rate (LDR) or high-dose-rate (HDR), respectively, both use similar image-guided techniques for inserting s...

We evaluated dose optimization for the treatment of cervical cancer using Buchler's high-dose-rate (HDR) remote-control-afterloading-system (RALS). When Buchler's system is used for intracavitary treatment, the irradiation times for the tandem and ovoid sources should be selected separately. The effects of variation of the tandem-to-ovoid dose ratio on the dose distribution are descrlbed.

OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy and safety of high dose rate (HDR) and low dose rate (LDR) brachytherapy in treating early-stage oral cancer. DATA SOURCES A systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases, restricted to English language up to June 1, 2012, was performed to identify potentially relevant studies. STUDY SELECTION Only randomized controlled trials (RCT) an...

PURPOSE To evaluate the therapeutic outcomes and late toxicities in patients treated by high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for localized or locally advanced prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS From May 2004 to September 2008, 86 men were treated by HDR-BT with EBRT for localized or locally advanced prostate cancer at the National Hospital Organizat...

Purpose To evaluate long-term outcome of high-dose-rate brachytherapy and perioperative brachytherapy in early mobile tongue cancer. Material and methods Seventy-three patients with clinically staged T1/T2 N0 M0 of mobile tongue cancer were studied retrospectively. Between January 2000 and September 2010, 47 patients underwent high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) alone and 26 patients underw...

PURPOSE Recently a number of hypothetical sources have been proposed and evaluated for use in brachytherapy. In the present study, a hypothetical (101)Rh source with mean photon energy of 121.5 keV and half-life of 3.3 years, has been evaluated as an alternative to the existing high-dose-rate (HDR) sources. Dosimetric characteristics of this source model have been determined following the recom...

A central question in radiation protection research is whether low-dose and low-dose-rate (LDR) exposures to ionizing radiation play a role in progression of cardiovascular disease. The response of endothelial cells to different LDR exposures may help estimate risk of cardiovascular disease by providing the biological mechanism involved. We investigated the effect of chronic LDR radiation on fu...

BACKGROUND The high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy might be an effective tool for palliation of dysphagia. Because of some concerns about adverse effects due to absorbed radiation dose, it is important to estimate absorbed dose in risky organs during this treatment. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to measure the absorbed dose in the parotid, thyroid, and submandibular gland, eye, trachea, spinal c...