Radiotherapy: Difference between revisions
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'''Radiotherapy''' is "the use of ionizing radiation to treat malignant neoplasms and some benign conditions."<ref name="MeSH-radiotherapy">{{cite web |url=http://www.nlm.nih.gov/cgi/mesh/2008/MB_cgi?index=11407 |title=Radiotherapy |author=National Library of Medicine |accessdate=2007-12-26 |format= |work=}}</ref><ref name="pmid11701579">{{cite journal |author=Symonds RP |title=Recent advances: Radiotherapy |journal=BMJ |volume=323 |issue=7321 |pages=1107–10 |year=2001 |pmid=11701579 |doi=}} [http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=citizendium&pubmedid=11701579 Fulltext at PubMed Central]</ref> | '''Radiotherapy''' is "the use of ionizing radiation to treat malignant neoplasms and some benign conditions."<ref name="MeSH-radiotherapy">{{cite web |url=http://www.nlm.nih.gov/cgi/mesh/2008/MB_cgi?index=11407 |title=Radiotherapy |author=National Library of Medicine |accessdate=2007-12-26 |format= |work=}}</ref><ref name="pmid11701579">{{cite journal |author=Symonds RP |title=Recent advances: Radiotherapy |journal=BMJ |volume=323 |issue=7321 |pages=1107–10 |year=2001 |pmid=11701579 |doi=}} [http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=citizendium&pubmedid=11701579 Fulltext at PubMed Central]</ref> | ||
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Radiotherapy can be classified by type of radiation, which includes: | Radiotherapy can be classified by type of radiation, which includes: | ||
* Electromagnetic (photons) | * Electromagnetic (photons) | ||
** X-Ray | ** [[X-Ray]] | ||
** Gamma ray | ** [[Gamma ray]] | ||
* Electrons. Electrons are used for superficial targets as the energy of electrons decreases during penetration of tissues | * [[Electrons]]. Electrons are used for superficial targets as the energy of electrons decreases during penetration of tissues | ||
* Protons. Initial research suggests that proton beams with conformal methods, can increase the accuracy of placement of the radiation. A [[randomized controlled trial]] of radiotherapy for [[prostate cancer]] found improved response of [[prostate specific antigen]] without increased local complications.<ref name="pmid16160131">{{cite journal |author=Zietman AL, DeSilvio ML, Slater JD, ''et al'' |title=Comparison of conventional-dose vs high-dose conformal radiation therapy in clinically localized adenocarcinoma of the prostate: a randomized controlled trial |journal=JAMA |volume=294 |issue=10 |pages=1233–9 |year=2005 |pmid=16160131 |doi=10.1001/jama.294.10.1233}}</ref> There is concern that particle accelerators for producing protons are proliferating in American health care prior to adequate study of the their role.<ref name="Hospitals Look to Nuclear Tool to Fight Cancer">{{cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/26/business/26proton.html |title=Hospitals Look to Nuclear Tool to Fight Cancer - New York Times |accessdate=2007-12-26 |author=Pollack, Andrew |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2007 |format= |work= |publisher=New York Times |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote=}}</ref> | * [[Protons]]. Initial research suggests that proton beams with conformal methods, can increase the accuracy of placement of the radiation. A [[randomized controlled trial]] of radiotherapy for [[prostate cancer]] found improved response of [[prostate specific antigen]] without increased local complications.<ref name="pmid16160131">{{cite journal |author=Zietman AL, DeSilvio ML, Slater JD, ''et al'' |title=Comparison of conventional-dose vs high-dose conformal radiation therapy in clinically localized adenocarcinoma of the prostate: a randomized controlled trial |journal=JAMA |volume=294 |issue=10 |pages=1233–9 |year=2005 |pmid=16160131 |doi=10.1001/jama.294.10.1233}}</ref> There is concern that particle accelerators for producing protons are proliferating in American health care prior to adequate study of the their role.<ref name="Hospitals Look to Nuclear Tool to Fight Cancer">{{cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/26/business/26proton.html |title=Hospitals Look to Nuclear Tool to Fight Cancer - New York Times |accessdate=2007-12-26 |author=Pollack, Andrew |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2007 |format= |work= |publisher=New York Times |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote=}}</ref> | ||
Radiotherapy can be classified by the amount of energy associated with the radiation: | Radiotherapy can be classified by the amount of energy associated with the radiation: | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
Revision as of 10:23, 3 January 2008
Radiotherapy is "the use of ionizing radiation to treat malignant neoplasms and some benign conditions."[1][2]
Classification
Radiotherapy can be classified by type of radiation, which includes:
- Electromagnetic (photons)
- Electrons. Electrons are used for superficial targets as the energy of electrons decreases during penetration of tissues
- Protons. Initial research suggests that proton beams with conformal methods, can increase the accuracy of placement of the radiation. A randomized controlled trial of radiotherapy for prostate cancer found improved response of prostate specific antigen without increased local complications.[3] There is concern that particle accelerators for producing protons are proliferating in American health care prior to adequate study of the their role.[4]
Radiotherapy can be classified by the amount of energy associated with the radiation:
- High-energy radiotherapy is "radiotherapy using high-energy (megavolt or higher) ionizing radiation. Types of radiation include gamma rays, produced by a radioisotope within a teletherapy unit; x-rays, electrons, protons, alpha particles (helium ions) and heavy charged ions, produced by particle acceleration; and neutrons and pi-mesons (pions), produced as secondary particles following bombardment of a target with a primary particle."[5]
- Orthovoltage therapy is x-rays between 150 and 500 kV
- Lower energy x-rays (50 to 150 kV) can be used for superficial therapy.
Radiotherapy can be classified by delivery methods:
- External beam
- Brachytherapy is "a collective term for interstitial, intracavity, and surface radiotherapy. It uses small sealed or partly-sealed sources that may be placed on or near the body surface or within a natural body cavity or implanted directly into the tissues."[6]
- Radioimmunotherapy is "radiotherapy where cytotoxic radionuclides are linked to antibodies in order to deliver toxins directly to tumor targets. Therapy with targeted radiation rather than antibody-targeted toxins (immunotoxins) has the advantage that adjacent tumor cells, which lack the appropriate antigenic determinants, can be destroyed by radiation cross-fire. Radioimmunotherapy is sometimes called targeted radiotherapy, but this latter term can also refer to radionuclides linked to non-immune molecules."[7]
Radiotherapy can be classified by the target of the therapy:
- Hemibody Irradiation
- Whole-body Irradiation
- Lymphatic Irradiation
Computer-assisted radiotherapy
Computer-assisted radiotherapy is the use of "computer systems or programs used in accurate computations for providing radiation dosage treatment to patients."[8] Methods of computer-assisted radiotherapy include:
- Conformal photon-beam therapy
- Intensity-modulated radiation
References
- ↑ National Library of Medicine. Radiotherapy. Retrieved on 2007-12-26.
- ↑ Symonds RP (2001). "Recent advances: Radiotherapy". BMJ 323 (7321): 1107–10. PMID 11701579. [e] Fulltext at PubMed Central
- ↑ Zietman AL, DeSilvio ML, Slater JD, et al (2005). "Comparison of conventional-dose vs high-dose conformal radiation therapy in clinically localized adenocarcinoma of the prostate: a randomized controlled trial". JAMA 294 (10): 1233–9. DOI:10.1001/jama.294.10.1233. PMID 16160131. Research Blogging.
- ↑ Pollack, Andrew (2007). Hospitals Look to Nuclear Tool to Fight Cancer - New York Times. New York Times. Retrieved on 2007-12-26.
- ↑ National Library of Medicine. High-Energy radiotherapy. Retrieved on 2007-12-26.
- ↑ National Library of Medicine. Brachytherapy. Retrieved on 2007-12-26.
- ↑ National Library of Medicine. Radioimmunotherapy. Retrieved on 2007-12-26.
- ↑ National Library of Medicine. Computer-assisted radiotherapy. Retrieved on 2007-12-26.