High-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy (BT) is an essential treatment for cervical cancer, one of the most prevalent gynecological malignant tumors. In HDR BT, high radiation doses can be delivered to the tumor target with the minimum radiation doses to organs at risk. Despite the wide use of the small HDR 192Ir source, as the technique has improved, the HDR 60Co source, which has the same miniaturized geometry, has also been produced and put into clinical practice. Compared with 192Ir (74 days), 60Co has a longer half-life (5.3 years), which gives it a great economic advantage for developing nations. The aim of the study was to compare 60Co and 192Ir sources for HDR BT in terms of both dosimetry and clinical treatment. The results of reports published on the use of HDR BT for cervical cancer over the past few years as well as our own research show that this treatment is safe and it is feasible to use 60Co as an alternative source.
Keywords: 192Ir; 60Co; cervical cancer; high-dose-rate brachytherapy.