iridium-192

Iridium-192 is a radioactive isotope of iridium that serves as a high-energy gamma radiation source for brachytherapy. It is widely used in the treatment of various cancers, including breast, cervical, prostate, and head and neck malignancies. With a half-life of approximately 73.8 days, it is particularly well-suited for temporary high-dose-rate (HDR) and pulsed-dose-rate (PDR) brachytherapy. In these procedures, a miniaturized iridium-192 source is temporarily placed within or near the tumor site using specialized applicators and remote afterloading systems. The ionizing radiation emitted by the isotope induces lethal DNA damage in cancer cells, primarily through the generation of free radicals and direct strand breaks, leading to tumor cell death while sparing surrounding healthy tissue due to the rapid fall-off of the radiation dose.

Brand names

Iriditope

Other names

192IrIr-192Ir192Ir 192iridium-192 isotopeiridium192 isotopeiridium 192 isotope