Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy
The treatment of disease with ionizing radiation. Also called radiation therapy. In radiotherapy, high-energy rays are often used to damage cancer cells and stop them from growing and dividing. A specialist in the radiation treatment of cancer is called a radiation oncologist. Like surgery, radiation therapy is a local treatment; it affects cancer cells only in the treated area. Radiation can come from a machine (external radiation). It can also come from an implant (a small container of radioactive material) placed directly into or near the tumor (internal radiation). Some patients receive both kinds of radiation therapy. External radiation therapy is usually given on an outpatient basis in a hospital or clinic, for example, 5 days a week for several weeks. Patients are not radioactive during or after the treatment. For internal radiation therapy, the patient usually stays in the hospital for a few days. The radiation implant may be temporary or permanent. Because the level of radiation is highest during the hospital stay, patients may not be able to have visitors or may have visitors only for a short time. Once an implant is removed, there is no radioactivity in the body. The amount of radiation in a permanent implant goes down to a safe level before the patient leaves the hospital. With radiation therapy, the side effects depend on the treatment dose and the part of the body that is treated. The most common side effects are tiredness, skin reactions (such as a rash or redness) in the treated area, and loss of appetite. Radiation therapy can also cause a decrease in the number of white blood cells, cells that help protect the body against infection. Although the side effects of radiation therapy can be unpleasant, they can usually be treated or controlled and, in most cases, they are not permanent.
* * *
SYN: radiation oncology.
- mantle r. r. with shielding of uninvolved radiosensitive structures or organs.

* * *

ra·dio·ther·a·py .rād-ē-ō-'ther-ə-pē n, pl -pies the treatment of disease by means of radiation (as X-rays) called also radiation therapy, radium therapy compare RADIODIAGNOSIS

* * *

n.
therapeutic radiology: the treatment of disease with penetrating radiation, such as X-rays, beta rays, or gamma rays, which may be produced by machines or given off by radioactive isotopes. Beams of radiation may be directed at a diseased part from a distance (see teletherapy), or radioactive material, in the form of needles, wires, or pellets, may be implanted in the body (see brachytherapy). Many forms of cancer are destroyed by radiotherapy.

* * *

ra·dio·ther·a·py (ra″de-o-therґə-pe) [radio- + therapy] the treatment of disease by ionizing radiation. Called also irradiation and radiation therapy.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Radiotherapy — Ra di*o*ther a*py (r[=a] d[i^]*[o^]*th[e^]r [.a]*p[y^]), n. [Radio + therapy.] (Med.) Treatment of disease by means of x rays or radioactivity. Radiotherapy of cancer is based on the fact that cancer cells are more sensitive to radiation than… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Radiotherapy — См. Радиотерапия Термины атомной энергетики. Концерн Росэнергоатом, 2010 …   Термины атомной энергетики

  • radiotherapy — ► NOUN ▪ the treatment of cancer or other disease using X rays or similar radiation. DERIVATIVES radiotherapeutic adjective radiotherapist noun …   English terms dictionary

  • radiotherapy — [rā΄dē ōther′ə pē] n. [ RADIO + THERAPY] the treatment of disease by the use of X rays or rays from a radioactive substance …   English World dictionary

  • radiotherapy — ra|di|o|ther|a|py [ ,reıdiou θerəpi ] noun uncount a medical treatment for cancer using RADIATION. Someone who is trained in radiotherapy is called a radiotherapist …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • radiotherapy — [[t]re͟ɪdioʊθe̱rəpi[/t]] N UNCOUNT Radiotherapy is the treatment of diseases such as cancer by using radiation …   English dictionary

  • radiotherapy — n. therapeutic radiology: the treatment of disease with penetrating radiation, such as X rays, beta rays, or gamma rays, which may be produced by machines or given off by radioactive isotopes. Beams of radiation may be directed at a diseased part …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • radiotherapy — UK [ˌreɪdɪəʊˈθerəpɪ] / US [ˌreɪdɪoʊˈθerəpɪ] noun [uncountable] a medical treatment for cancer using radiation. Someone who is trained in radiotherapy is called a radiotherapist …   English dictionary

  • radiotherapy — radioterapija statusas T sritis fizika atitikmenys: angl. curietherapy; radiotherapy; radium therapy vok. Curietherapie, f; Radiumtherapie, f rus. радиотерапия, f pranc. radiothérapie, f …   Fizikos terminų žodynas

  • radiotherapy — spindulinė terapija statusas T sritis ekologija ir aplinkotyra apibrėžtis Gydymas jonizuojančiąja spinduliuote. Didelėmis arba mažomis jonizuojančiosios spinduliuotės dozėmis naikinami piktybiniai navikai ir jų metastazės. atitikmenys: angl.… …   Ekologijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”