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Why can brachytherapy spare healthy tissue around a tumor?
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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.
Brachytherapy is able to spare healthy tissue because it involves the direct implantation of radioactive sourcesâsuch as iridium, cesium, gold, or iodineâdirectly into a tumour or the tissue bed where a tumor was located.12
By placing the radiation source inside or immediately adjacent to the target area using devices like catheters, needles, or wires, clinicians can deliver a high, localized dose of radiation to the cancer cells while minimizing exposure to the surrounding healthy structures. This internal approach is distinct from teletherapy, which delivers radiation from a distance, and it generally results in fewer secondary effects on nearby healthy tissues.12