[Brachytherapy of breast cancer]

For breast cancer, interstitial brachytherapy remains an accurate irradiation technique for delivering a high dose (increasing the local control) in a small volume (decreasing the toxicity). In this article, we present the technical data related to the breast brachytherapy proceeding, from the implantation of the vectors to the treatment itself, including the planning. The different indications of breast brachytherapy include all the breast irradiations focusing on the initial tumour bed (partial irradiation of the breast), such as boost, accelerated and partial breast irradiation (APBI) and second conservative radiosurgical treatment in case of ipsilateral in-breast recurrence. The results in terms of efficacy and toxicity are presented for each indication. Interstitial breast brachytherapy, performed according with the standard rules, remains a major technique for breast cancer treatment.