Brachytherapy
A form of radiation treatment in which a radioactive source is placed inside or very close to the tissue being treated.
The clinical context of Brachytherapy lies mainly in oncology; understanding it requires relating the term to symptoms, anatomy, physiology and the patient's medical history.
How brachytherapy presents is not identical in every patient: age, underlying disease, duration, severity and associated clinical findings can substantially change its appearance.
Evaluation of brachytherapy starts with the relevant history and examination, followed when appropriate by laboratory studies, imaging, pathology, microbiology, functional testing or another targeted investigation.
Care for brachytherapy is individualized, balancing symptom control, treatment of the underlying process, prevention of complications and preservation of normal function.
The outlook associated with brachytherapy varies by cause and timing of treatment, making accurate diagnosis and appropriate follow-up more useful than interpreting the term in isolation.
How brachytherapy presents is not identical in every patient: age, underlying disease, duration, severity and associated clinical findings can substantially change its appearance.
Evaluation of brachytherapy starts with the relevant history and examination, followed when appropriate by laboratory studies, imaging, pathology, microbiology, functional testing or another targeted investigation.
Care for brachytherapy is individualized, balancing symptom control, treatment of the underlying process, prevention of complications and preservation of normal function.
The outlook associated with brachytherapy varies by cause and timing of treatment, making accurate diagnosis and appropriate follow-up more useful than interpreting the term in isolation.
This information is for general awareness only and is not medical advice. Consult a doctor for any health concern.