High-Dose Radiation Therapy (HDR)

What is High-Dose Radiation Therapy? High-Dose Radiation Therapy (HDR), also known as brachytherapy or high-dose-rate radiation therapy, is a minimally invasive procedure that delivers a concentrated dose of radiation directly into or near a specific targeted area within the body.

How is High-Dose Radiation Therapy Performed?

HDR delivers a high dose of radiation through specialized radioactive instruments that are precisely inserted into or near a tumor. During this process, a needle or tube connected to a high-dose-rate machine is inserted into the targeted area. The machine delivers a high dose of radiation for approximately 1020 minutes. Afterward, the radioactive instruments are removed completely, leaving no residual material in the body. 

 

This process may be conducted in a single treatment session or divided into several sessions spread out over days or weeks. The precise radiation dose is carefully calculated based on case-specific variables such as the stage and type of cancer, location and size of the targeted area, radiosensitivity, and the patient’s overall health. 

 

High-Dose Radiation Applications

High-dose radiation can be utilized as a standalone treatment or in combination with other therapies, such as chemotherapy or external beam radiation. It is commonly used to treat breast, prostate, and gynecological cancers. However, it may also be used to treat various other types of cancer, including brain, eye, lung, skin, and esophageal cancers.

Source: https://cancercarecenter.md/what-is-high-dose-rate-radiation-therapy/