Proton Beam Therapy

Overview

Journal Br J Cancer

Specialty Oncology

Date 2005 Sep 29

PMID 16189526

Citations 82

Authors

W P Levin

H Kooy

J S Loeffler

T F DeLaney

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Conventional radiation therapy directs photons (X-rays) and electrons at tumours with the intent of eradicating the neoplastic tissue while preserving adjacent normal tissue. Radiation-induced damage to healthy tissue and second malignancies are always a concern, however, when administering radiation. Proton beam radiotherapy, one form of charged particle therapy, allows for excellent dose distributions, with the added benefit of no exit dose. These characteristics make this form of radiotherapy an excellent choice for the treatment of tumours located next to critical structures such as the spinal cord, eyes, and brain, as well as for paediatric malignancies.

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