Guidance
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued full guidance to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on brachytherapy as the sole method of adjuvant radiotherapy for breast cancer after local excision.
Description
Treatment for breast cancer usually involves surgery to remove part or all of the breast. This is sometimes followed by radiotherapy, particularly if only part of the breast has been removed. Brachytherapy is a type of radiotherapy in which a radiation source is placed inside the body area to be treated. It typically involves the insertion of radioactive implants into the space in the breast where tissue has been removed. The implants are usually in place for one to five days. The aim of the procedure is to minimise the chance of the cancer recurring.
Coding and clinical classification codes for this guidance