brachytherapy

noun

brachy·​ther·​a·​py ˌbra-ki-ˈther-ə-pē 

-ˈthe-rə-

: radiotherapy in which the source of radiation is placed (as by implantation) in or close to the area being treated

Examples of brachytherapy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Elizabeth joined Winship in 1988, specializing in brachytherapy and Gamma Knife medical physics care. —Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 15 May 2024

By placing the radioactive source inside the body, brachytherapy can target tumors more directly than external beam radiotherapy. —Behzad Ebrahimi, Discover Magazine, 5 Jan. 2024

An increasingly popular form of brachytherapy called high-dose rate brachytherapy involves using a tube to guide a more highly radioactive seed directly to the affected tissue before removing it after a few minutes. —Behzad Ebrahimi, Discover Magazine, 5 Jan. 2024

Since then, radiation has evolved into treatments that include modern brachytherapy, inserting a radioactive source into a tumor, and focused beams of ionizing radiation that kill off cells while incurring as little off-target damage as possible. —Angus Chen, STAT, 15 Aug. 2023

Another form of brachytherapy involves inserting small metal rods that remain in the prostate for a couple of days while radiation is delivered into the prostate on an inpatient basis. —Dr. Jared Heiner, idahostatesman, 19 Feb. 2018

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1954, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

brachytherapy

noun

brachy·​ther·​a·​py -ˈther-ə-pē 

plural brachytherapies

: radiotherapy in which the source of radiation is placed (as by implantation) in or close to the area being treated