The radiation therapist's primary concern is the treatment of patients with malignant dis ease. However, there are definite indications for radiation treatment for benign diseases that do not respond to conventional methods of treatment. It may be the treatment of choice in the unusual instance of a life-threatening benign disease that cannot be surgi cally or medically managed. The present volume by Order and Donaldson represents a major statement on the uti lization of radiation techniques in the management of benign disease. The initial report of the Committee on Radiation Treatment of Benign Disease from the Bureau of Radiological Health recommended that consideration be given to the quality of radiation, the total dose, overall time, underlying organs at risk and shielding factors before the institution of radiation therapy. Infants and children should be treated with ionizing radiation only in very exceptional cases and after careful evaluation of the potential risk compared with the expected benefit. Direct irradiation of the skin areas overlying organs that are particularly prone to late effects such as the thyroid, eye, go nads, bone marrow, and breast should be avoided. Meticulous radiation protection tech niques should be used in all instances and the depth of penetration of the x-ray beam should be chosen in accordance with depth of the pathologic process'.

This book is a comprehensive guide to the field of radiology and radiotherapy for medical trainees. Divided into four sections, it offers in depth detail on radiodiagnosis, nuclear medicine, radiotherapy and radiation oncology, with an emphasis on the multi-modality approach to diagnosis. The final section discusses newer advances and interventional radiology. The first section on radiodiagnosis begins with a general overview of radiology, procedures and hazards. The following chapters describe the use of radiology for imaging different sections of the body including pulmonary radiology, musculoskeletal radiology, endocrine imaging and breast imaging. The following sections discuss nuclear medicine and scans, and radiation oncology and radiotherapy, for specific disease sites. Key points Comprehensive guide to radiology and radiotherapy for trainees Covers radiodiagnosis, nuclear medicine, radiotherapy and radiation oncology, and interventional radiology Describes use of radiology for diagnosis and treatment of different disease sites Discusses nuclear medicine and scans in detection and treatment of malignant and benign tumours

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has emerged as an important innovative treatment for various primary and metastatic cancers. This book provides a comprehensive and up-to-date account of the physical/technological, biological, and clinical aspects of SBRT. It will serve as a detailed resource for this rapidly developing treatment modality. The organ sites covered include lung, liver, spine, pancreas, prostate, adrenal, head and neck, and female reproductive tract. Retrospective studies and prospective clinical trials on SBRT for various organ sites from around the world are examined, and toxicities and normal tissue constraints are discussed. This book features unique insights from world-renowned experts in SBRT from North America, Asia, and Europe. It will be necessary reading for radiation oncologists, radiation oncology residents and fellows, medical physicists, medical physics residents, medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, and cancer scientists.

This volume discusses radiotherapy and its role in the treatment of benign diseases. Its intent is to broaden the application of radiotherapy beyond malignancy to treat a range of clinical concerns, from minor skin problems to life-threatening arterial disease. In addition, it aims to encourage medical practitioners to consider the benefits versus the risks of radiotherapy, and assess the most modern technology for uses that may benefit the greatest number of patients.

This expanded and updated second edition is a practical text to aid radiation oncologists in evaluating and treating benign diseases. An introductory chapter by an eminent malpractice lawyer clarifies the medical-legal implications of the radiation treatment of such diseases, and this is followed by the various benign conditions in alphabetical order. In each case, a brief summary is followed by citations of pertinent literature in both explanatory tables and reference lists. Although a comprehensive review, it remains readily comprehensible and will be recognised as the standard text on the subject.

This book is the seventh in a series of titles from the National Research Council that addresses the effects of exposure to low dose LET (Linear Energy Transfer) ionizing radiation and human health. Updating information previously presented in the 1990 publication, Health Effects of Exposure to Low Levels of Ionizing Radiation: BEIR V, this book draws upon new data in both epidemiologic and experimental research. Ionizing radiation arises from both natural and man-made sources and at very high doses can produce damaging effects in human tissue that can be evident within days after exposure. However, it is the low-dose exposures that are the focus of this book. So-called “late” effects, such as cancer, are produced many years after the initial exposure. This book is among the first of its kind to include detailed risk estimates for cancer incidence in addition to cancer mortality. BEIR VII offers a full review of the available biological, biophysical, and epidemiological literature since the last BEIR report on the subject and develops the most up-to-date and comprehensive risk estimates for cancer and other health effects from exposure to low-level ionizing radiation.

This book elucidates the radiation therapy protocols and procedures for the management of adult patients presenting with primary benign and malignant central nervous system tumors. With the development of new treatment strategies and rapid advancement of radiation technology, it is crucial for radiation oncologists to maintain and refine their knowledge and skills. Dedicated exclusively to adult CNS radiation oncology, this textbook explores CNS tumors ranging from the common to the esoteric as well as secondary cancers of metastatic origin. The first half of the book is organized anatomically: tumors of the brain, spinal cord, leptomeninges, optic pathway, ocular choroid, and skull base. The second half covers primary CNS lymphoma, rare CNS tumors, metastatic brain disease, vascular conditions of the CNS, radiation-associated complications, and radiation modalities. Each chapter provides guidance on treatment field design, target delineation, and normal critical structure tolerance constraints in the context of the disease being treated. Learning objectives, case studies, and Maintenance of Certification Self-Assessment Continuing Medical Education-style questions and answers are incorporated throughout the book. This is an ideal guide for radiation oncologists, residents, and fellows, but medical students may also find value in the text.