brachytherapy

noun

brachy·​ther·​a·​py ˌbra-ki-ˈther-ə-pē How to pronounce brachytherapy (audio)
-ˈthe-rə-
: radiotherapy in which the source of radiation is placed (as by implantation) in or close to the area being treated

Examples of brachytherapy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web By placing the radioactive source inside the body, brachytherapy can target tumors more directly than external beam radiotherapy. Behzad Ebrahimi, Discover Magazine, 5 Jan. 2024 An increasingly popular form of brachytherapy called high-dose rate brachytherapy involves using a tube to guide a more highly radioactive seed directly to the affected tissue before removing it after a few minutes. Behzad Ebrahimi, Discover Magazine, 5 Jan. 2024 Since then, radiation has evolved into treatments that include modern brachytherapy, inserting a radioactive source into a tumor, and focused beams of ionizing radiation that kill off cells while incurring as little off-target damage as possible. Angus Chen, STAT, 15 Aug. 2023 Another form of brachytherapy involves inserting small metal rods that remain in the prostate for a couple of days while radiation is delivered into the prostate on an inpatient basis. Dr. Jared Heiner, idahostatesman, 19 Feb. 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'brachytherapy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1954, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of brachytherapy was in 1954

Dictionary Entries Near brachytherapy

Cite this Entry

“Brachytherapy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brachytherapy. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

Medical Definition

brachytherapy

noun
brachy·​ther·​a·​py -ˈther-ə-pē How to pronounce brachytherapy (audio)
plural brachytherapies
: radiotherapy in which the source of radiation is placed (as by implantation) in or close to the area being treated

More from Merriam-Webster on brachytherapy

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!