Braquiterapia (Radioterapia Interna): Tipos, Usos e Efeitos Colaterais

Brachytherapy places radioactive sources directly inside or adjacent to a tumor, delivering a high radiation dose to the target while sparing surrounding healthy tissue.

Types of Brachytherapy

• Permanent (low-dose-rate, LDR): Iodine-125 or palladium-103 seeds are implanted (e.g., prostate, ocular plaques) and decay over months.
• Temporary (high-dose-rate, HDR): An iridium-192 source travels through catheters via an afterloader; dwell times are calculated, and the source is removed after minutes (used for gynecologic, breast, prostate boost).

Clinical Indications

Prostate, cervical, endometrial, breast, head and neck, skin, sarcoma, ocular, biliary, and esophageal cancers.

Side Effects

Effects are site-specific: urinary frequency or stricture, rectal proctitis, vaginal stenosis, fatigue. Generally, brachytherapy causes fewer side effects than external beam radiation. Permanent implants require temporary radiation safety precautions for close contacts.