External Beam Radiotherapy: II

Abstract

The term 'radium bomb' which was widely used for radium teletherapy for many years was initially devised not for teletherapy but for an intracavitary brachytherapy device to treat gynaecological cancer at Memorial Hospital, New York during the years 1917–1919. Some of the earliest radium bombs provided only one radiation beam size of large dimensions and multi-field treatments were impossible. Later designs incorporated higher activity radium sources of up to 10 gm and applicators to collimate the gamma radiation, which could be attached to the radium unit and provide a variety of beam sizes. In addition, treatment simulators are now routinely available for external beam verification, of correct size and position of a beam, prior to delivery of the actual treatment. All treatment planning dimensions are in cm.