High-Dose Rate Brachytherapy for Pharyngeal Cancer

Pharyngeal Cancer Treatment: HDR Brachytherapy

High-Dose Rate (HDR) brachytherapy, also called interstitial irradiation, is an innovative form of internal radiotherapy (radiation treatment). It may be a treatment option for cancers affecting the pharynx and tongue.

Brachytherapy is a quick, effective way to give radiation treatments. Brachytherapy tightly focuses the radiation inside your tumor, directly within the site of the pharyngeal cancer. This technique ensures that you receive the maximum radiation dose where you need it most, while allowing minimal radiation to reach the healthy surrounding pharyngeal tissue. In some cases, brachytherapy may be an effective alternative to surgical removal of a tumor and the affected organ.

Potential benefits of HDR brachytherapy include:

• A shorter treatment time—the entire treatment takes 1 1/2 days instead of 5–7 weeks.
• More focused radiation—the dose is concentrated within the area of your body where the tumor was previously removed. Less radiation reaches the healthy part of the affected organ, and your body as a whole.
• A possible reduction of side effects—HDR brachytherapy does not cause the irritation to your skin that can be a side effect of external radiation.

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