Radiological concepts in radiotherapy

The atomic explosions in Hiroshima and Nagasaki made the name radiation itself become a nightmare. Notwithstanding this, radiation continued to serve the mankind specially in diagnosis of several human diseases and in the treatment of intractable malignancies. With their latest research tools biologists have now shown a significant shift in the earlier paradigm; even the concept that radiation initiates cancer appears to be no longer tenable. On the contrary, selective radiation doses inhibit growth of cancer cells and radiation in combination with many chemotherapeutic drugs, radiosensitizing chemicals and/or hyperthermia, is emerging as a new modality for cancer treatment which offers high therapeutic advantages. In addition, the deleterious effects of radiation can now be strategically counter poised by the use of many drugs and chemicals. This has been possible by the newer insights gained in the mechanism of biological effects of radiation. The fate of radiation-induced free radicals which are the prime cause of biological consequences following radiation exposure can now be suitably modified by drugs and chemicals. Of late, controversies have also arisen on the beneficial effects of very low dose of radiation and biological dosimetry has gained considerable importance in the assessment of potential risk under such circumstances. All these and related topics are incorporated in the book. Papers relevant to INIS are indexed separately