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Which radioactive materials can be used in brachytherapy?
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radiation therapy
External beam radiation therapy (also known as external beam teletherapy, or long-distance therapy) being delivered using a machine known as a linear accelerator.
In brachytherapy, also known as internal radiation therapy, radioactive sources are placed directly into a tumor or a nearby body cavity to deliver high doses of radiation while sparing surrounding healthy tissue.12
The radioactive materials used in this procedure are typically radioactive isotopes of the following elements:
These materials are contained within various delivery devices, such as needles, wires, grains, or tubes, which are inserted into the affected tissue or tumor bed. In some cases, the radioactive source is delivered through tubes and subsequently withdrawn, a technique referred to as remote brachytherapy.12