ABSTRACT
Intravascular (or endovascular) brachytherapy is a treatment modality used to reduce the risk of restenosis aer percutaneous revascularization in coronary or peripheral blood vessels. Betaand gamma-emitting sources are used, nowadays always as a temporary irradiation with a catheter-based approach. For peripheral treatments, gamma-emitting sources are mainly transferred by modern conventional aerloading devices. Dedicated devices have been introduced for coronary applications. erefore, specic QA procedures and dosimetric concepts, not directly related to conventional brachytherapy and the sources used there, have been recommended. Radiation safety has to be taken into account as manual aerloading equipment is used quite oen. Clinical QA, especially not considered in the beginning phase of intravascular brachytherapy, can nowadays be based on recommendations and margin concepts based on clinical results.
