Final answer:
A healing collar is typically used in dental implant procedures, not in brachytherapy or radiotherapy for cancer treatments. In brachytherapy, radioactive seeds are implanted at the tumor site to provide localized radiation, and these seeds contain isotopes with short half-lives, eliminating the need for removal.
Step-by-step explanation:
A healing collar is not directly mentioned in the context of the provided references to various radiotherapy and brachytherapy procedures for cancer treatment. However, it can be inferred that a healing collar could be associated with dental implant procedures, a different context than the cancer treatments described.
In the context of dental implants, a healing collar, also known as a healing cap or abutment, is used. This device is temporarily attached to the implant in the jawbone after the surgical insertion. Its role is to help guide the gum tissue for proper healing around the implant, and to provide a shape for the gum tissue to heal around. Once healing is complete, the healing collar is removed and replaced with a permanent abutment to which a dental prosthesis (like a crown, bridge, or denture) is attached.
When talking about brachytherapy, the procedure involves placing radioactive seeds or pellets directly at the tumor site to deliver localized radiation treatment. This is commonly used in prostate cancer treatment, where radioactive seeds, containing isotopes like iodine-125 or palladium-103, are implanted. The seeds may be left in the body permanently since they will stop being significantly radioactive due to their short half-lives.