Manual Afterloading in Brachytherapy (Endocurietherapy with ¹⁹²Ir Wires and Needles)

Abstract

Although an automatic device for the afterloading implant of radioactive sources in brachytherapy (interstitial curietherapy) seems to be ideal, there are often situations in which manual loading is practised, e.g. when using curved guide needles or tubes (base of the tongue) or practising an implants while the tumour is surgically exposed (= peroperative implant — bladder carcinoma, unresectable salvary gland’s tumour etc.). In my opinion, manual afterloading seems justified as well in smaller radiotherapy centers which do not have an automatic afterloading apparatus at their disposal. Thus, I shall describe the different ways in which radioactive sources may be introduced manually into the tissues.