Chapter 13: Fractionated Radiotherapy, The LQ Model For Fractionation Schemes

12 flashcards · Biology · by Kristóf Nagy

1. Fractionation

   The process of dividing a total dose of radiation into multiple smaller doses.29303235...

2. Dose per fraction

   The amount of radiation delivered in a single treatment session.373940

3. Number of fractions

   The total number of treatment sessions in a course of radiation therapy.323940

4. Total dose

   The total amount of radiation delivered over the entire course of treatment.32373940

5. Sub-lethal Damage

   Damage to a cell that can be repaired if given enough time before further radiation exposure.2930

6. Repair of sub-lethal damage

   Cells have the ability to repair some of the damage caused by radiation between treatment fractions.1729

7. Alpha/Beta ratio

   The ratio of the linear (α) and quadratic (β) components of the LQ model, which describes the relative contributions of single-event and double-event cell killing to the overall biological effect of radiation.30323435...

8. Early responding tissues

   Tissues that show a rapid response to radiation, typically within a few weeks of treatment, and have a high α/β ratio.30323435

9. Biologically effective dose (BED)

   A measure of the biological effect of a given radiation dose, taking into account the fractionation scheme and the α/β ratio of the tissue.35

10. Equivalent fractionation schemes

    Different fractionation schemes can be considered equivalent if they produce the same overall biological effect, as predicted by the LQ model.3236

11. Late responding tissues

    Tissues that show a delayed response to radiation, often months or years after treatment, and have a low α/β ratio.32343536

12. Fractionated Radiotherapy

    Dividing the total radiation dose into smaller doses given over a period of time.1217343536