ABSTRACT
Conventional, low dose rate brachytherapy usually delivers the treatment over a period of days, which allows time to review the treatment plan and parameters, making adjustment as necessary mid-treatment. Most external-beam radiotherapy consists of many fractions, and errors in early treatments can be corrected in later sessions. HDR brachytherapy offers neither the latitude of time nor many fractions. Only a well developed and disciplined quality assurance programme stands between a safe practice and disaster.
