Radiation, the emission of rays of high frequency and wavelengths, has been in use for more than 100 years. It has been used in the field of medicine since the early 1900s when scientists like Marie Curie, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Science for her cutting edge work in the field of radioactivity, discovered elements with radioactive properties such as radium and polonium. Since then, several new innovations have been made in the use of radiation in medicine. Radiation is majorly used in the treatment of cancers and malignant cells. And simply, radiotherapy can be defined as the use of ionizing radiation in the control and eradication of malignant cancer cells. It is to be differentiated from radiology which refers to the application of ionizing radiation in the diagnosis of diseases. Radiology makes use of radiation in the imaging of the human body.
There are two types of radiation, ionizing and non-ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation has more applications in the field of radiotherapy than non-ionizing radiation. There are machines that can carefully measure doses of ionizing radiation and then direct the beams at the area of the body in which the cancerous cells are situated. These machines focus the high energy beams on the cells so as to either incapacitate them or totally destroy them. In most cases, these high energy beams damages certain parts of the cells, especially the DNA in the nucleus, thereby making these cells unable to divide and replicate. Unlike normal cells which can recover and repair themselves when damaged by radiation, cancerous cells cannot. And so they die.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Radiotherapy
- Brachytherapy
- Intracavitary and Interstitial Brachytherapy
- Other Forms of Brachytherapy
- Classification by Dose Rate
- Classification by Source Loading
- Classification by Duration of Treatment
- Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy
- Intensity Modulated Brachytherapy
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This document provides a comprehensive overview of radiotherapy and its various modalities, specifically focusing on brachytherapy and intensity modulated radiation techniques. The paper delves into the historical background, principles, classifications, applications, and advantages and disadvantages of these radiation therapies.
- The historical development and principles of radiotherapy
- The different types of radiotherapy, including external beam radiotherapy, brachytherapy, and intensity modulated radiotherapy
- The mechanisms of action of radiotherapy and the concept of radiosensitivity
- The applications of radiotherapy in cancer treatment
- The advantages and disadvantages of radiotherapy
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Radiotherapy: This section introduces radiotherapy as a method of cancer treatment using ionizing radiation, discussing its historical background, mechanisms of action, and applications. It also outlines the different types of radiation used in radiotherapy and the concept of radiosensitivity.
- Brachytherapy: This chapter focuses on brachytherapy, a form of radiotherapy where sealed radiation sources are placed directly within or near the cancerous tumor. It explains the historical development of brachytherapy, different classifications based on implant position, dose rate, source loading, and duration of treatment, and its various applications in treating cancers.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Key terms and concepts discussed in this text include: radiotherapy, brachytherapy, intensity modulated radiotherapy, ionizing radiation, radiosensitivity, cancer treatment, sealed source radiotherapy, intracavitary and interstitial implants, dose rate, source loading, temporary and permanent implants.
- Quote paper
- Dr P. Ronald (Author), 2011, Intensity Modulated Brachytherapy, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/368313
