Brain tumor treatment with brachytherapy

Brachytherapy is an inpatient treatment for brain tumors that takes several days and is less invasive than surgery, while it can be more effective than traditional radiation. This method works well to treat some malignant brain tumors and their metastases and sometimes is used for benign tumor shrinking. In addition, it is worth noting that brachytherapy causes minor damage to healthy tissue. Before the procedure, the patient meets with a radiation oncologist and a neurosurgeon for a series of tests and consultations. There are several lab tests, a neurological exam, and an MRI head scan. Once a treatment plan is made, the person is ready for the brachytherapy procedure. Under general anesthesia, radioactive seeds are put into the brain tumor as part of the brachytherapy treatment. Special needles are used to put them in the affected tissue. Computers help determine how many seeds there are and how much radiation they have. Post-procedure care and symptom treatment ensure the patient is comfortable. Half the radiation is given off in the first few days after placing the seed. After that, radioactivity goes down and will be at zero after three months. Patients can comfortably live with these implants, which need not be removed. Brachytherapy is a targeted, minimally invasive way to treat brain tumors that improves patient outcomes and lowers the risk of side effects common with traditional radiation therapy.