Principles of Radiotherapy Flashcards
principles of radiation therapy
- minimize therapy
- minimize negative impact on quality of life
- improve quality of life
- maximize impact on quality of life (cure or remission)
- improve outcomes
we do not want to overtreat patient because of ___
toxicity, time, and costs
function of improving the quality of life
- for patients that need palliation
- organ and function preservation
2 types of radiation
particulate radiation and electromagnetic radiation
type of radiation dictates ___
how the radiation is used for treatment
how to protect the radiation workers
2 subtypes of particulate radiation
alpha: can be stopped by a thin piece of paper
beta: need aluminum shielding to protect workers
electromagnetic radiation used for treatment
gamma radiation (needs a thick concrete block for protection) - shorter wavelength, higher frequency, higher energy
radiations that come from machines
- linea accelerator (LINAC) !!!
- tomotherapy
- halcyon
- cyberknife
- proton machines
types of radioactive materials
- cobalt: ebrt, bachytherapy, gamma knife
- iridium: brachy (gyne)
- iodine: brachy (prostate)
classification of radiotherapy according to treatment type
- external beam radiotherapy
- brachytherapy
most common machine used for radiotherapy
linear accelerator (linac)
principle of linac
- can produce high energy photons (electromagnetic type of radiation, for deeper tumors)
- electrons (particulate type, for superficial tumors)
benefits of linac
- more uniform beam characteristics
- more precise field shaping
- more precise delivery
parts of the linac
- gantry + stand = where radiation is produced
- treatment couch
- table 1
planning techniques for radiotherapy
- 2d/conventional (xray): most simple
- conventional ct = uniform intensity, square or rectangular
- 3d conformal radiotherapy (3dcrt) = uniform intensity, irregular shapes
- imrt = varying intensity, irregular shapes, higher conformity
- igrt = changes per change in size, shape, and location of tumor
what is vmat
- radiation can be shut out of machine while moving in 360 degree arc
- quicker treatment delivery and improved dose homogeneity