The status quo and progress of radionuclides for intravascular brachytherapy

Dating from the inception of percutaneous angioplasty, restenosis has been the postprocedural Achilles heel. Intravascular brachytherapy using gamma or bata radionuclides has generated tremendous excitement with promising results. The review gives update on intravascular brachytherapy, including the mechanism of radiation preventing restenosis, two basic platform for delivering endovascular radiation, the option of radianuclides,dose and dose rate, therapeutic effects, side effects and personnel exposure.