Principles and Practice of Brachytherapy : Using Afterloading Systems

This authoritative new reference provides a comprehensive review of current practice in afterloading brachytherapy. It covers the scientific principles of brachytherapy and its applications in clinical practice. The first two sections of the book cover Physics and Radiobiology, while the third section is devoted to the clinical application of the technique in relation to specific tumor sites. Each chapter is authored by acknowledged experts in these fields. The design and provision of a brachytherapy service, quality assurance and cost implications are also discussed. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 4 Contributors......Page 6 Preface......Page 9 PART I THE PHYSICS OF BRACHYTHERAPY......Page 10 1 Sources in brachytherapy......Page 12 2 Source specification and dosimetry......Page 20 3 Calibration of sources......Page 28 4 Systems of dosimetry......Page 44 5 Computers in brachytherapy dosimetry......Page 58 6 Dose specification and reporting: the ICRU recommendations......Page 90 7 Afterloading systems......Page 112 8 Quality assurance in low dose-rate afterloading......Page 121 9 Quality assurance in high dose-rate afterloading......Page 142 10 Radiation protection in brachytherapy......Page 156 PART II THE RADIOBIOLOGY OF BRACHYTHERAPY......Page 168 11 The radiobiology of low dose-rate and fractionated irradiation......Page 170 12 Dose-rate effects with human cells......Page 189 13 Radiobiology of high dose-rate, low dose-rate, and pulsed dose-rate brachytherapy......Page 198 14 Predictive assays for radiation oncology......Page 214 15 Principles of the dose-rate effect derived from clinical data......Page 224 PART III CLINICAL PRACTICE......Page 232 16 Endobronchial brachytherapy in the treatment of lung cancer......Page 234 17 Brachytherapy in cancer of the esophagus......Page 252 18 High dose-rate afterloading brachytherapy for prostate cancer......Page 266 19 Low dose-rate brachytherapy for breast cancer......Page 275 20 Brachytherapy in the treatment of head and neck cancer......Page 293 21 High dose-rate interstitial and endocavitary brachytherapy in cancer of the head and neck......Page 305 22 Brachytherapy in the treatment of pancreas and bile duct cancer......Page 326 23 Brachytherapy for treating endometrialcancer......Page 342 24 Low dose-rate brachytherapy for treating cervix cancer: changing dose rate......Page 352 25 High dose-rate brachytherapy for treating cervix cancer......Page 363 26 Brachytherapy for brain tumors......Page 382 27 Interstitial brachytherapy in the treatment of carcinoma of the cervix......Page 388 28 Interstitial brachytherapy in the treatment of carcinoma of the anorectum......Page 396 29 High dose-rate brachytherapy in the treatment of skin tumors......Page 402 30 Hyperthermia and brachytherapy......Page 409 31 The costs of brachytherapy......Page 419 32 Quality management: clinical aspects......Page 432 33 Safe practice and prevention of accidents in afterloading brachytherapy......Page 442 34 Pulsed low dose-rate brachytherapy in clinical practice......Page 452 Index......Page 460 A Comprehensive And Authoritative Treatise, This Book Covers The Scientific Principles Of Brachytherapy By Remote Afterloading, And Its Applications In Clinical Practice. The Former Are Covered In Two Sections - Radiobiology And Physics - While The Third Section Is Devoted To The Clinical Application Of The Technique In Relation To Specific Tumour Sites. The Design And Provision Of A Brachytherapy Service, Quality Assurance And Cost Implications Are Also Discussed. Essential For Radiotherapists And Medical Physicists In Training And In Practice, This Will Be An Invaluable Addition To The Library Of Any Oncology And Radiotherapy Centre.