Brachytherapy utilising miniaturised X-ray tubes - Clinical implementation and future applications

Abstract

Electronic brachytherapy is an advanced radiation treatment technique specifically designed to deliver high doses of radiation inside or very close to the tumor-bearing tissues. Unlike the traditional radionuclide-based brachytherapy, electronic brachytherapy uses a miniaturised x-ray tube that can produce radiation when energised. Most of the electronic brachytherapy systems operate at 50 kVp, therefore posing less radiation exposure to both patients and staff when compared to the standard Cobalt-60 or Iridium-192 based brachytherapy systems. Electronic brachytherapy systems have broader applications that include the treatment of skin, brain, breast, spinal metastasis, endometrium, and cerv..