Current opinion in oncology
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Review Comparative Study
High-dose rate brachytherapy for carcinoma of the cervix.
Increasingly popular in Europe and Asia as the intracavitary component for cervical cancer radiotherapy, high-dose rate brachytherapy demonstrates certain advantages over historical low-dose rate treatments. High-dose rate intracavitary treatment improves radiation safety, lessens treatment times, allows for outpatient treatment regimens, and has improved packing and retraction techniques, which can decrease rectal and bladder doses. ⋯ Recent data showing decreased local control in advanced cervical cancer with the prolonged overall treatment time of low-dose rate treatment suggest the practical advantage of outpatient high-dose rate intracavitary brachytherapy, which uses fractionated regimens and shortens overall treatment times. Although high-dose rate treatment has not been shown to improve survival compared with low-dose rate treatment, its practical advantages may account for its increasing use.