What type of radiation therapy involves an internal radioactive implant?

Brachytherapy is a form of radiation therapy that involves placing a radioactive implant directly inside or next to the tumor. This internal delivery of radiation allows for a higher dose of radiation to target the cancerous tissue while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissues. The proximity of the radioactive source to the tumor ensures that the cancer cells receive an effective dose for treatment.

In contrast, radiosurgery is typically a non-invasive technique that delivers focused radiation beams from outside the body, rather than through internal implants. Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is also an external form of treatment, involving multiple high doses of radiation precisely directed at the tumor. Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is a technique that changes the intensity of the radiation beams during treatment, which, like SBRT, does not involve internal radiation sources but rather external beams aimed at the tumor from various angles. This distinction in delivery methods is crucial in understanding how different types of radiation therapy operate and their specific applications in cancer treatment.