2. What are the main differences between photon and electron radiation? Why is i

Question

2. What are the main differences between photon and electron radiation? Why is it better to use electrons than photons to treat cancers close to the skin? 3. Why do we use multiple gantry angles for most photon treatments? How does using more angles improve the treatment? 4. Why do we take images just before treating a patient with radiation? How does a cone-beam CT allow you to see more anatomy than kV radiographs? 5. Why is it particularly important that the linac commissioning QA is done correctly?

Explanation / Answer

Different types of radiation therapy use photons like orthovoltage radiation therapy, conventional radiation therapy, 3D conformal radiation therapy. In this, high energy photon beams are used. In 2D type, X rays are used to determine the best position in order to treat cancers. For the best radiation treatments, fluoroscopic simulator is used. The bones on the X rays are used as landmarks to determine the location of tumour and the position to locate the radiation beam. This treatment is used in the case of emergency.

Electrons completely belong to a different form of radiation when compared with photons with different physical properties. But bilologically they work same as photons. Linear acceleratrs that help help in producing photons also produces electrons. They release energy close to the surface of the skin and are commonly used to treat superficial tumor such as skin cancers and lymoh nodes. As they posses with the advantage of releasing most of the energy near the skin, they are considered to be more advantageous when compared with photon radiation. Due to this, they cannot penetrate to the deeprt normal tissues. This is the disadvantage.

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