Procedures

Brachytherapy is a treatment for cancer where radioactive sources are placed in or directly next to the tumor. The radioactive sources emit radiation, which is used to destroy tumor cells. The advantage of brachytherapy is that the radiation dose is delivered directly to the tumor while very little radiation is absorbed by nearby healthy tissues. The Department of Radiation Oncology at University Hospital offers the most experienced physicians and physicists in the field of brachytherapy in Central New York. This combined with procedures not offered in nearby regions, provides the patient with the most treatment options. Common sites implanted using brachytherapy at University Hospital are prostate, head and neck, cervix, endometrium, lung, brain, breast, abdomen and eye.

Brachytherapy Procedures performed at University Hospital, Department of Radiation Oncology:

Prostate

Permanent Prostate Seed Implants

Brain

GliaSite®¹²⁵ for brain
I¹²⁵ seeds in brain

P³² Instillation in brain cysts

Breast

MammoSite® HDR for breast

Ir¹⁹² seeds in Afterloading tubes

Gynelogical

High Dose Rate (HDR)

• Vaginal Cylinder
• Fletcher-Suit
• Syed Applicator

Low Dose Rate (LDR)

• Vaginal Cylinder
• Fletcher Suit
• Syed Applicator

Head and NeckHigh Dose Rate (HDR) Interstitial Applications

Ir¹⁹² seeds in Afterloading tubes

Au¹⁹⁸ gold grain seeds

Cardiac

Intravascular Brachytherapy for restenosis

Abdomen

P³² Abdominal infusion

Eye

Str⁹⁰ Eye Applications for pterygium