Misuse or new use of radiation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Misuse or new use of radiation - Essay Example Earlier, good results were obtained with radiation therapy using grenz rays or superficial x-rays but since such machines are not commonly available now, this modality of treatment is no longer used. This study describes the use of megavoltage radiation with good results. The study involved treatment of nine patients with chronic vesicular dermatitis on their hands, feet, or both, with megavoltage radiation. All patients were refractory to conventional treatments. Six of the nine patients had both their hands and feet treated, while two patients had their hands treated, and one patient had the feet treated. For treatment of the hands, the patients stood at the side of a linear accelerator couch and placed their prone palms on a one centimeter of bolus on the couch. Another one centimeter of bolus was placed on top of the hands. An isocentric anterior-posterior and posterior-anterior technique with 6 MV photons, with field size ranging from 19 Ãâ€" 23 cm to 38 Ãâ€" 24.5 cm was used. The center of midplane between the two pieces of bolus received the radiation dose, with radiation dose prescription depths ranging from 1.0 to 2.5 cm from the patients skin surface (2.0 to 3.5 cm from the bolus). For treatment of feet, the patients lay supine on a linear accelerator couch and reverse on the table. With the knees bent, the feet were placed in a water bath having a one-centimeter bolus. An isocentric right and left lateral technique with 6 MV photons, with field size ranging from 14 Ãâ€" 28 cm to 24 Ãâ€" 34 cm was used. The radiation dose was prescribed to the isocenter with the radiation dose prescription depths ranging from 10.5 to 12.5 cm. The radiation dose given was 1,200 cGy in 8 fractions for 8 patients and 900 cGy in 6 fractions for one patient. Treatments were given twice per week, either on Monday and Thursday or on Tuesday and Friday. An improvement was seen in all patients during