Radiology

Question 1

What are the 5 R’s of radiology?

Answer 1

Repair, redistribution (there are different parts of the cell cycle e.g. G2 where the cells are more responsive to treatment), repopulation (this means giving cells time to recover after treatment), re-oxygenation (hypoxia makes cells more resistant to chemo), radio-sensitivity/resistant.

Question 2

Which types of cells are really radio-resistant?

Answer 2

eg nerve cells in the brain

Question 3

What types of cells are radiosensitive?

Answer 3

The most sensitive are spermatogonia and erythroblasts, epidermal stem cells, gastrointestinal stem cells.

Question 4

What is a fraction?

Answer 4

Daily dose of radiation made up of ‘greys’.

Question 5

What differs between palliative radiation treatment and radical treatment?

Answer 5

In palliative care there are fewer fractions given ( to inc QOF) however there are more greys given per fraction.

Question 6

What is the bodies immediate reaction to radiotherapy?

Answer 6

Internal inflammation, so give steroids