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There are several types of brachytherapy characterized by different methods of placing radiation inside the body: interstitial brachytherapy, intracavitary brachytherapy, intraluminal radiation therapy, and radioactively tagged molecules given intravenously. When both forms are employed, the external beam radiation is intended to destroy cancerous cells in a large area surrounding the tumor, while the brachytherapy delivers a boost, or higher dose of radiation, to help destroy the main concentrated mass of tumor cells. In some instances, brachytherapy may be used in conjunction with external beam therapy. It is also occasionally used to treat cancers of the breast, brain, skin, anus, esophagus, lung, bladder, and prostate.

This technique is particularly effective in treating cancers of the cervix, uterus, vagina, rectum, eye, and certain head and neck cancers. The radioactive sources or isotopes are in the form of wires, seeds (or molds), or rods. Sometimes, they may be inserted directly into the tumor. Internal Radiation Therapy (Brachytherapy)īrachytherapy involves placing radiation sources as close as possible to the tumor site. Amazingly, the gamma knife is so precise that it damages and destroys the unhealthy tissue while sparing adjacent normal, healthy tissue.

A total of 201 beams of radiation intersect to form a powerful tool focused on a targeted area of abnormal tissue within the brain. Instead, it uses a concentrated radiation dose from Cobalt-60 sources. What makes the gamma knife so unique is that it successfully treats these conditions with no incision. Gamma Knifeĭeveloped in 1968 by Swedish professors Lars Leksell and Borge Larsson, the gamma knife (sometimes called the 'Leksell-Larsson Gamma Knife') is a highly advanced instrument used to treat arteriovenous malformations ( AVM), facial pain, benign and malignant brain tumors, and other functional brain disorders. Sources of external beam radiation may include, but are not limited to: X-ray, cobalt, linear accelerator, neutron beam, betatron, spray radiation, stereotactic radiosurgery such as gamma knife, and proton beam. Many patients can go home following each treatment, and most patients can even continue with their normal daily activities. Patients do not see or feel the actual treatment. Most patients do not need to stay in the hospital while they are having external beam therapy. Stereotactic radiation therapy is very effective in treating small tumors such as those in the head and brain.Įxternal beam therapy is painless. This way, the ideal amount of radiation needed to destroy tumor cells is delivered directly to the tumor growth, while the amount of exposure to the area surrounding the tumor is minimized.

The therapy targets a tumor from many different directions so the beams of radiation converge on the tumor. Stereotactic radiation therapy involves focusing the radiation beam on a small area and delivering very high doses. High-energy radiation is used to treat other deeper cancers.

#COBALT 60 MACHINE PARTS SKIN#

Low- energy radiation does not penetrate very deeply into the body and is used mainly to treat surface tumors such as skin cancer. It is used to treat many types of tumors including cancers of the head and neck area, breast, lung, colon, and prostate.ĭepending upon tumor location, different levels of radiation are used for external beam therapy. External beam therapy is the radiation therapy treatment option used for most cancer patients. A radiation oncologist makes decisions regarding the type of system that is best suited to treat a specific cancer patient. Systems which produce different types of radiation for external beam therapy include orthovoltage x-ray machines, Cobalt-60 machines, linear accelerators, proton beam machines, and neutron beam machines. External Beam Radiation Therapy (Teletherapy)Įxternal beam radiation therapy is radiation delivered from a distant source, from outside the body and directed at the patient's cancer site. There are two main types of radiation therapy: external beam radiation ( teletherapy) and internal radiation therapy ( brachytherapy). Acknowledgements Types of Radiation Therapy

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