Brachytherapy

At UT Southwestern Medical Center, our radiation oncologists are among the few in North Texas offering brachytherapy – specialized radiation therapy that can more precisely target cancerous tumors – and the only center in the region to offer the procedure intraoperatively.

The Most Comprehensive Brachytherapy Program in North Texas

Radiation therapy is a commonly used cancer treatment that uses high-energy waves, such as X-rays or gamma rays, to damage or destroy cancer cells. Brachytherapy is internal radiation therapy, which involves a radioactive substance implanted in or near a cancerous tumor to provide direct, targeted treatment.

Brachytherapy uses tiny radioactive sources such as capsules, pellets, seeds, or wires that are implanted either temporarily or permanently. These implants provide a high dose of radiation in a small area, which maximizes cancer treatment while minimizing damage to nearby healthy tissue.

UT Southwestern has the most comprehensive brachytherapy program in North Texas. Our radiation oncologists work closely with medical oncologists and cancer surgeons to provide brachytherapy to treat a wide range of cancers. Our cancer teams use imaging to guide brachytherapy procedures to make the treatment even safer and more effective, maintaining our patients’ quality of life.

As the only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer center in North Texas, we deliver the best cancer care available today and push to discover new treatments. NCI designation means we offer patients the ability to participate in the broadest possible range of clinical trials, with access to potential therapies not available at other facilities.

Brachytherapy Treatment Options

Our cancer teams administer different types of brachytherapy in different ways, based on the type of cancer and each patient’s situation.

In most cases, the radioactive sources are placed intracavity – in a space, or cavity, in the body, such as the rectum or uterus. For advanced and complex tumors, we use interstitial brachytherapy, in which the implants are placed inside the tumor, as opposed to intracavitary.

Brachytherapy can be performed using a high-dose rate (HDR) or low-dose rate (LDR). Our team will discuss the benefits of each approach and help patients decide which is best to treat their cancer.

• High-dose-rate brachytherapy: Patients receive a powerful radioactive source for a few minutes per treatment session; usually there are a few sessions over a few weeks, depending on the specific case. The radioactive material is taken out of the patient’s body after each session.
• Low-dose-rate brachytherapy: This type provides lower amounts of radiation for a longer period of time, such as one to several days, before the radioactive source is removed. In certain cases, the radioactive source is permanently left in the body. This type of radioactive source stops releasing radiation after a few weeks.