Heavy particle radiotherapy

According to the author the scientific literature on the physical and radiobiological aspects of heavy particles in radiotherapy is scattered. The objective in writing this book is to synthesize most of the available literature on the subject and to convey this information to readers with various backgrounds. Heavy particles are those that are many times heavier than electrons, and, except for protons, they are also known as high-LET radiation and are being used therapeutically at approximately 30 institutions worldwide. The appearance of such a book is, therefore, very timely and welcome. The book is divided into eight chapters and an extensive appendix. Chapters 1 and 2 consist of an introduction to radiobiological aspects of this subject, and this area is further enhanced by the final chapter, 8, which is mainly a radiobiological comparison of heavy particles, and by the appendix on radiobiological techniques. The remaining chapters deal with each heavy particle in turn: neutrons, protons, helium ions, heavy ions, and negative pions