Introduction The use of discrete gamma ray sources to irradiate tissues is usually referred to as brachytherapy and falls into three distinct applications. Interstitial therapy is where the sources are…

Treatment plan checking A treatment planning system will be tested during commissioning and this will include evaluating correct data transfer to the record and verify network and treatment unit, and…

Special techniques Over the past 20 years, highly specialist treatment techniques have been developed often with dedicated treatment machines. Although often some form of the treatment can be delivered on…

Differences between kilovoltage and electron therapy While both modalities are suited for superficial treatments, the mechanism of dose deposition is different, resulting in clinically significant differences in the features of…

Electron therapy Electron beams provide an ideal treatment for superficial PTVs extending from the skin surface to typically up to 5   cm deep. The major advantage over photon beams is the…

Chapter 8). Maximum dose is deposited at the surface and the 90% dose level will be approximately 2   mm deep for a 60   kV beam up to 10   mm deep at 220   kV. The…

Megavoltage photon therapy Related posts: descriptors of the radionuclide imaging process Radiation treatment planning: immobilization, localization and verification techniques photon therapy trends Dentition

Planning tools, calculation and display Related posts: descriptors of the radionuclide imaging process Radiation treatment planning: immobilization, localization and verification techniques Principles and practice of radiation treatment planning trends Dentition

Introduction Patient data Megavoltage photon therapy     Treatment beams         Beam energy         Asymmetric fields         Isocentric plans         Extended focus skin distance (FSD) plans         Wedges         Compensators         Beam shaping devices         Blocks         Multileaf collimators (MLCs)         Segmented…