Radiotherapy For Non Malignant Disorders

This volume discusses the background and various clinical applications of radiation therapy in the treatment of non-malignant diseases. It documents the radiobiological and physical principles of treatment and the rationale underlying the use of radiotherapy for various disorders of the CNS, head and neck, eye, skin and soft tissues, bone and joints, and vascular system. In so doing, it draws attention to and elucidates the scope for application of radiotherapy beyond the treatment of malignancies. Both the risks and the benefits of such treatment are fully considered, the former ranging from minor clinical problems to life-threatening diseases.

This expanded and updated second edition is a practical text to aid radiation oncologists in evaluating and treating benign diseases. An introductory chapter by an eminent malpractice lawyer clarifies the medical-legal implications of the radiation treatment of such diseases, and this is followed by the various benign conditions in alphabetical order. In each case, a brief summary is followed by citations of pertinent literature in both explanatory tables and reference lists. Although a comprehensive review, it remains readily comprehensible and will be recognised as the standard text on the subject.

The radiation therapist's primary concern is the treatment of patients with malignant dis ease. However, there are definite indications for radiation treatment for benign diseases that do not respond to conventional methods of treatment. It may be the treatment of choice in the unusual instance of a life-threatening benign disease that cannot be surgi cally or medically managed. The present volume by Order and Donaldson represents a major statement on the uti lization of radiation techniques in the management of benign disease. The initial report of the Committee on Radiation Treatment of Benign Disease from the Bureau of Radiological Health recommended that consideration be given to the quality of radiation, the total dose, overall time, underlying organs at risk and shielding factors before the institution of radiation therapy. Infants and children should be treated with ionizing radiation only in very exceptional cases and after careful evaluation of the potential risk compared with the expected benefit. Direct irradiation of the skin areas overlying organs that are particularly prone to late effects such as the thyroid, eye, go nads, bone marrow, and breast should be avoided. Meticulous radiation protection tech niques should be used in all instances and the depth of penetration of the x-ray beam should be chosen in accordance with depth of the pathologic process'.

The radiation therapist's primary concern is the treatment of patients with malignant dis ease. However, there are definite indications for radiation treatment for benign diseases that do not respond to conventional methods of treatment. It may be the treatment of choice in the unusual instance of a life-threatening benign disease that cannot be surgi cally or medically managed. The present volume by Order and Donaldson represents a major statement on the uti lization of radiation techniques in the management of benign disease. The initial report of the Committee on Radiation Treatment of Benign Disease from the Bureau of Radiological Health recommended that consideration be given to the quality of radiation, the total dose, overall time, underlying organs at risk and shielding factors before the institution of radiation therapy. Infants and children should be treated with ionizing radiation only in very exceptional cases and after careful evaluation of the potential risk compared with the expected benefit. Direct irradiation of the skin areas overlying organs that are particularly prone to late effects such as the thyroid, eye, go nads, bone marrow, and breast should be avoided. Meticulous radiation protection tech niques should be used in all instances and the depth of penetration of the x-ray beam should be chosen in accordance with depth of the pathologic process'.

Radiotherapy as practiced at the renowned Christie Hospital and Holt Radium Institute is brought up to date in this new, second edition of The Radiotherapy of Malignant Disease. The contributions are all written by current or former members of the hospital staff. The opening chapters provide the necessary background information: basic physics and radiobiology, principles of chemotherapy, and mould room practice. The main part of the book represents the very essence of the Manchester school of thought. It is designed to show in detail how to treat, by X-rays and radium, malignant tumors in various anatomical sites. The book thus gives practical guidance on clinical techniques necessary in all disciplines involved in the management of malignant disease. From the reviews of the first edition: " ...It should be in the library of every radiotherapy department, and in the hands of every trainee..." #British Medical Journal#1 "...This book should be an important and interesting reference book on the shelves of any medical library or radiotherapist's office." #American Journal of Roentgenology#2 "...There can...be few established radiotherapists, described by the editors as the epitome of the oncologist, who did not read the earlier versions of the Manchester textbook and may still use it for reference. This latest edition is costly but it should continue to be read by all trainees aspiring to the DMRT and FRCR, wherever they may be in training and whatever the philosophy of their teachers." #Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine#3

This volume discusses radiotherapy and its role in the treatment of benign diseases. Its intent is to broaden the application of radiotherapy beyond malignancy to treat a range of clinical concerns, from minor skin problems to life-threatening arterial disease. In addition, it aims to encourage medical practitioners to consider the benefits versus the risks of radiotherapy, and assess the most modern technology for uses that may benefit the greatest number of patients. The major challenge in this field is to develop new strategies for the controlled use of radiotherapy. This includes the ability to focus and control applications with equipment that can target tissues with high accuracy, using new methods of isotopic and external beam introduction. It also means minimizing the risk of uncontrolled radiation exposure by employing minimal doses and the smallest tissue volume required to achieve the desired effect. The Radiation Therapy of Benign Diseases features articles written by internationally recognized experts who confront and critically discuss these major issues. It will prove to be an essential and informative read not only for radiation therapists but also for internists, surgeons, ophthalmologists and biologists interested in this endeavor.

Radiation Oncology: An Evidence-Based Approach (ROEBA) is a reference book designed to enable radiation oncologists, including those in training, to make diagnostic and treatment decisions on the basis of the best available scientific evidence. Ease of use is ensured by a structured, reader-friendly format that offers rapid access to evidence-based recommendations. ROEBA’s orientation is entirely practical, in that the focus is solely on diagnostic/staging and treatment issues. Detailed diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines are provided for multidisciplinary cancer management as well as radiation therapy techniques. The evidence underlying each recommendation is clearly and concisely explained, and the strength of the recommendations and evidence is systemically graded. Furthermore, diagnostic and treatment algorithms are provided for the commonly diagnosed cancers. This ground-breaking text on radiation oncology is an essential tool for physicians in their daily clinical practice.

In this book, leading experts in the dermatological and oncological field describe the use of radiation therapy for the treatment of the full range of dermatological malignancies – including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, cutaneous lymphomas, Kaposi's sarcoma, melanoma, and Merkel cell tumor – as well as those precancerous lesions and non-malignant dermatological disorders which are amenable to radiation therapy. In each case the specific indications for the use of radiotherapy and its application are clearly explained with the aid of numerous high-quality illustrations. In addition, the book provides a concise introduction to physical and radiobiological principles, selection of radiation factors, dose definitions, radiation reactions, and risk assessments. The new edition has been thoroughly revised and updated to reflect advances in practical knowledge and clinical practice. It will be an invaluable source of information on the management of skin tumors and related non-malignant disorders for both dermatologists, oncologists and radiation oncologists.