Interstitial brachytherapy implants are performed by placing radioactive material directly into

tissue in the form or ribbons, wires, or seeds. There are several traditional systems that have been

developed to aid in the planning and dose calculations. The Memorial system specifically is an extension
of the Quimby system and is characterized by complete dose distribution around lattices of uniform
strength point radio-sources spaced 1cm apart.1 The computations that take into account activity, dose,

and filtration at all possible angles. The activity distribution within a given implant is taken to be uniform,
which results in a heterogeneous dose distribution.2 The theory behind using an implant with these
specifications is to distribute a higher amount of dose to the hypoxic, radio-resistant cells at the center of

the tumor, where the prescription point is defined at in planar implants.

The memorial system was designed to be used for permanent implants of I-125 and Pd-103 and
temporary implants of Ir-192. The activity of an implant is derived from dimensional averaging which

helps to recognize target sizes and use given information to prevent overdosing of tissues. Activity used
in permanent implants makes use of a graphical calculating device, seen in Figure 1, that relates implant
dimensions to the number of seeds, activity, and spacing of given isotopes. The Memorial dose

calculation system would eventually act as a precursor to the TG-43 report and is the basis for modern
computational methodology.

Figure 1. Ir-192 Memorial system nomograph.3

1. Khan FM, Gibbons JP. The Physics of Radiation Therapy. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott, Williams, and Wilkins; 2014: 330-331.
2. Schmidt, K. Interstitial Implants: A Historical Perspective. [SoftChalk]. La Crosse, WI: UW-L Medical Dosimetry Program; 2016.
3. Zwicker RD. Quimby-based Brachytherapy Brachytherapy Systems. AAPM.
https://www.aapm.org/meetings/05SS/program/RZQuimby.pdf. Accessed August 8, 2018.