Topic 1. Physical background of the radiation therapy. Main methods.

Equipment
for the distant gamma-therapy. Equipment & sources for contact therapy. Properties
of the main sources, which are used for radiation therapy. Structure of radiation
therapy units.

Types of the radiological units: 6

1- X-ray diagnostic
2- diagnostic & treatment departments in which highly active RPL's are used
3- radiation therapy departments which work with opened sources of IR
4- use of radioactive substances for internal, i/v, intratissue administration
5- diagnostic usage of the opened sources of IR
6- mixed

Classes of work in radiological departments which use opened radionuclides: 4

1. laboratories which produce RPL's of very high activity
2. diagnostic & treatment departments in which highly active RPL's are used
3. work with limited quantities of RPL's
4. work with very low quantities of RPL's

Defence principles:
ALARA
1. increase distance
2. decrease time of contact
3. alpha-rays –aluminum plates
4. beta-rays- screening with plastic materials, aluminum containers
5. X-rays- Pl - lead containers, leaden gloves, apron
Radioactive materials usually release alpha rays (particles similar to the nuclei of helium),
beta rays (quickly moving electrons or positrons) or gamma rays. Alpha and beta rays can
often be shielded by a piece of paper or a sheet of aluminium. They cause most damage
when they are emitted inside the human body. Gamma rays are less ionizing than either
alpha or beta rays, but protection against them requires thicker shielding. They produce
damage similar to that caused by X-rays such as burns, cancer, and genetic mutations.
Human biology resists germ-line mutation by aborting most mutated foetus. Non-ionizing
radiation is less essentially harmful below the levels that cause heating. Ionizing radiation
is dangerous in direct exposure. Humans and animals can also be exposed to ionizing
radiation internally: for example, radioactive iodine is treated as normal iodine by the body
and used by the thyroid; its accumulation there often leads to thyroid cancer. Some
radioactive elements also bioaccumulate.
Types of radiation: Ionizing radiation may be produced by radioactive
decay, nuclear fission (dividing) and nuclear fusion (synthesis), extremely
hot objects (thermal or blackbody radiation), and accelerated charges
(bremsstrahlung or synchrotron radiation).
The negatively charged electrons and positively charged nuclei created by
ionizing radiation may cause damage in living tissue. If the dose is
sufficient, the effect may be seen almost immediately, in the form of
radiation poisoning (acute radiation syndrome). Lower doses may cause cancer or other
long-term problems. The effect of the very low doses encountered in normal
circumstances (from both natural and artificial sources, like cosmic rays, medical X-rays
and nuclear power plants) show relatively low cancer risk associated with background
sources of radiation.
Learning objectives
- basic principles of protection from radiaton
- radiological units
Self-control tests
1. How many types of radiological departments do you know?
A. 5
B. 6
C.3
D.4
E.8
2. Тhe 3rd type of radiological departments represents...
A. diagnostic & treatment departments in which highly active RPL's are used
B. work with low quantities of RPL's
C. laboratories which produce RPL's of very high activity
D. work with limited quantities of RPL's
E. radiation therapy departments which work with opened sources of IR
3. What features are characteristic for the 1st class of work in radiological
departments which use opened sources of IR?
A. work with limited quantities of RPL's
B. work with low quantities of RPL's
C. diagnostic & treatment departments in which highly active RPL's are used
D. radiation therapy departments which work with opened sources of IR
E. laboratories which produce RPL's of very high activity
4. Opened sources of IR are:
A. X-ray-therapy
B. gamma-therapy
C. solutions, gases, scattering substances
D. linear accelerators
E. RPL's which are kept in hermetic packs for a long period of time
References
- 1. Encyclopedia of Diagnostic Imaging by Albert L. Baert (Hardcover - Feb 13,
2008)
- 2. Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology: Multiple Choice Questions by Adam
Mitchell (Paperback - Dec 12, 2003)
- 3. Radiology: PreTest Self-Assessment and Review by David M., M.D. Hovsepian
(Paperback - Jun 1, 1993)
- 4. Radiology Super Secrets (Secrets Ser) by Douglas S., M.D. Katz, Kevin R., M.D.
Math, Stuart A. Groskin, and Math Groskin Katz (Audio CD - May 1999)
- 5. Radiology Imaging: Words And Phrases by Sally C. Pitman (Paperback - Aug 30,
2005)