Accelerators for cancer therapy
The vast majority of radiation treatments for cancerous tumors are given using electron linacs that provide both electrons and photons at several energies. Design and construction of these linacs are based on mature technology that is rapidly becoming more and more standardized and sophisticated. The use of hadrons such as neutrons, protons, alphas, or carbon, oxygen and neon ions is relatively new. Accelerators for hadron therapy are far from standardized, but the use of hadron therapy as an alternative to conventional radiation has led to significant improvements and refinements in conventional treatment techniques. This paper presents the rationale for radiation therapy, describes the accelerators used in conventional and hadron therapy, and outlines the issues that must still be resolved in the emerging field of hadron therapy.
- Research Organization:
- Fermi National Accelerator Lab. (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Research (ER) (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76CH03000
- OSTI ID:
- 757001
- Report Number(s):
- FERMILAB-Conf-00/139; TRN: US0003737
- Resource Relation:
- Journal Volume: 61; Journal Issue: 3-6; Conference: 8th International Symposium on Radiation Physics, Prague (CZ), 06/05/2000--06/09/2000; Other Information: PBD: 23 Jun 2000
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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