Brachytherapy is best described as which type of radiation therapy?

Brachytherapy is best described as which type of radiation therapy?

• A. External beam radiation
• B. Close or internal radiation treatment
• C. Systemic radiotherapy
• D. Proton beam therapy

Answer: (B)

Brachytherapy involves placing the radioactive source inside or right next to the treatment area, making it an internal or close radiation treatment. This proximity allows a high dose to be delivered to the tumor while the radiation falls off quickly with distance, sparing surrounding healthy tissue. It differs from external beam radiation therapy, which delivers radiation from outside the body; from systemic radiotherapy, which uses radiopharmaceuticals that travel through the bloodstream; and from proton beam therapy, which is a type of external beam therapy using protons. In practice, brachytherapy is used to target cancers like cervical, prostate, and some breast cancers with precise, localized doses through implanted seeds or applicators.

Brachytherapy involves placing the radioactive source inside or right next to the treatment area, making it an internal or close radiation treatment. This proximity allows a high dose to be delivered to the tumor while the radiation falls off quickly with distance, sparing surrounding healthy tissue. It differs from external beam radiation therapy, which delivers radiation from outside the body; from systemic radiotherapy, which uses radiopharmaceuticals that travel through the bloodstream; and from proton beam therapy, which is a type of external beam therapy using protons. In practice, brachytherapy is used to target cancers like cervical, prostate, and some breast cancers with precise, localized doses through implanted seeds or applicators.