High Dose Radiation Therapy (HDR)
High-dose rate (HDR) radiation therapy is a form of brachytherapy, or internal radiation therapy, that involves the placement of a high-energy radiation source inside the body near the tumor for brief periods of time. HDR radiation therapy is usually performed as a series of outpatient procedures with a limited number of sessions.
HDR radiation therapy allows highly localized doses of radiation to be delivered to the tumor quickly. This differs from low-dose rate (LDR) radiation therapy, such as seed implantation, in which radioactive materials are placed within the body for extended periods of time. HDR therapy is less toxic to surrounding normal tissue and may result in fewer overall side effects.
Generally high dose radiation therapy is used to treat certain gynecologic cancers and prostate cancer.
To learn more about Brachytherapy click here.
