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Infectious Disease

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Radiation Therapy of Benign Diseases

Part of the book series: Medical Radiology ((Med Radiol Radiat Oncol))

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Abstract

Prior to the availability of antibiotics and antivirals, radiotherapy was used in the treatment of a wide range of infections (Berk and Hodes 1991). Only selected indications are covered in this chapter. Despite the many subjective reports of clinical benefit and the large number of patients treated, the clinical evidence of efficacy remains generally weak. That said, there is some laboratory evidence to support that the effects may be real (Goldberg et al. 1935). The mechanism of action remains unclear but is not likely to be by direct action on what are typically relatively radiation-resistant pathogens. With more effective alternative treatments and considering the potential carcinogenic effects of radiation, there is now limited interest in radiotherapy for infections. In the context of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, there has been a small wave of renewed interest, which is already waning as this section is written.

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  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada

    David Roberge

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  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada

    David Roberge

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA

    Sarah S. Donaldson

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Roberge, D. (2022). Infectious Disease. In: Roberge, D., Donaldson, S.S. (eds) Radiation Therapy of Benign Diseases. Medical Radiology(). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/174_2022_363

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/174_2022_363

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