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Principles and Practice of Stereotactic Radiosurgery pp 33–50Cite as

The Physics of Stereotactic Radiosurgery

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Abstract

In radiosurgery, instead of using a surgical knife when treating a patient, high-energy ionizing radiation is the tool of choice. To understand the tumoricidal effects of ionizing radiation, it is important to know how radiation interacts with matter. This chapter describes general concepts and principles in radiation physics, including basic physics that are applicable to stereotactic radiosurgery. Commonly used delivery systems are also briefly reviewed. This chapter is written for non-physics professionals, especially neurosurgeons and radiation oncologists.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA

    Siyong Kim PhD

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Jatinder Palta PhD (Professor and Chief of Physics)

Authors
  1. Siyong Kim PhD
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  2. Jatinder Palta PhD
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA

    Lawrence S. Chin MD (Professor and Chairman) (Professor and Chairman)

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland Medical School, Baltimore, MD, USA

    William F. Regine MD (Professor and Chairman) (Professor and Chairman)

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Kim, S., Palta, J. (2008). The Physics of Stereotactic Radiosurgery. In: Chin, L.S., Regine, W.F. (eds) Principles and Practice of Stereotactic Radiosurgery. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-71070-9_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-71070-9_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-71069-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-71070-9

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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