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Therapeutic Applications of Ionizing Radiations

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Book cover Radiation Damage in Biomolecular Systems

Part of the book series: Biological and Medical Physics, Biomedical Engineering ((BIOMEDICAL))

Abstract

The aim of radiation therapy is to deliver a precisely measured dose of radiation to a defined tumour volume with minimal damage to the surrounding healthy tissue, resulting in the eradication of the tumour, a higher quality of life with palliation of symptoms of the disease, and the prolongation of survival at competitive cost. Together with surgery and pharmacology, radiotherapy is presently one of the most important therapeutical weapons against cancer. This chapter provides an overview of the clinical use of radiation, with emphasis on the optimisation of treatment planning and delivery, and a top level summary of state-of-the-art techniques in radiation therapy.

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Correspondence to María Elena Sánchez-Santos .

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Sánchez-Santos, M.E. (2012). Therapeutic Applications of Ionizing Radiations. In: García Gómez-Tejedor, G., Fuss, M. (eds) Radiation Damage in Biomolecular Systems. Biological and Medical Physics, Biomedical Engineering. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2564-5_24

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2564-5_24

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-007-2563-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-007-2564-5

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