Possibilities and limits of brachycurietherapy in brain tumors

Brachicurietherapy represents a low dose-rate irradiation able to deliver high focal doses within relatively small tumor volumes. Its application to brain tumors utilizing the stereotactic techniques is nowadays considered with growing interest. The Authors analyze, on the basis of their personal experience, the possibilities and the limits offered by this therapeutic procedure in neuro-oncology. The choice of the sources and their modality of application, the definition of the optimal dose/time and dose/volume ratio are the main problems taken into consideration and discussed.