Intravascular Brachytherapy in the Prevention of Vascular Restenosis

Overview

Vascular restenoses currently represent amajor problemin the treatment of vascular stenoses. One of new approachesin the prevention of restenoses is intravascular brachytherapy. Intravascular brachytherapy uses local irradiation ofthe stenotic vessel segment by ionizing radiation with the aim of prevention of restenosis. This is a new rapidlydeveloping multidisciplinary approach based on collaboration of specialties of intervention radiology, interventioncardiology, angiology, nephrology and radiation oncology. This review examines current options of intravascularbrachyterapy as well as results of clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of intravascular brachytherapy in the differentanatomical regions. Intravascular brachytherapy may substantially reduce the rate of restenoses. However, intravascularbrachytherapy should be currently used only in the setting of clinical trials. Optimal method of irradiation ofthe stenotic segment of the vessel is still to be defined.

Key words:
vascular restenosis, intravascular brachytherapy, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, percutaneoustransluminal coronar angioplasty, dialysis arteriovenous shunt, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt.