Superficial X-rays

Superficial X-rays
ICD-9	92.21

Superficial X-rays are low-energy X-rays that do not penetrate very far before they are absorbed. They are produced by X-ray tubes operating at voltages in the 10–100 kV range, and therefore have peak energies in the 10–100 keV range.^[1] The Maximar-100 was a widely-adopted superficial radiation therapy unit.

Precise naming and definitions of energy ranges may vary, and X-rays at the lower end of this range may also be known as Grenz rays.^[2] They are useful in radiation therapy for the treatment of various benign or malignant skin problems, including skin cancer and severe eczema.^[3][4] They have a useful depth of up to 5 mm.^[2][5] In some locations, orthovoltage treatment is being replaced by electron therapy or brachytherapy.^[6]

As well as teletherapy, X-rays in this energy range (and the low orthovoltage range) are used for imaging patients, to analyse materials and objects in industrial radiography and for crystallography.

References

1. Podgorsak, E. B. (2005). "Treatment Machines for External Beam Radiotherapy". Radiation oncology physics: a handbook for teachers and students. Vienna: International Atomic Energy Agency. p. 125. ISBN 92-0-107304-6.
2. Chang, David S.; Lasley, Foster D.; Das, Indra J.; Mendonca, Marc S.; Dynlacht, Joseph R. (2014). Basic Radiotherapy Physics and Biology. New York: Springer. p. 27. ISBN 9783319068411.
3. Hill, Robin; Healy, Brendan; Holloway, Lois; Kuncic, Zdenka; Thwaites, David; Baldock, Clive (21 March 2014). "Advances in kilovoltage x-ray beam dosimetry". Physics in Medicine and Biology. 59 (6): R183–R231. Bibcode:2014PMB....59R.183H. doi:10.1088/0031-9155/59/6/R183. PMID 24584183.
4. Alikhan, Ali; Maibach, Howard; Lachapelle, Jean-Marie (2013). "Radiotherapy in the Treatment of Hand Eczema". Textbook of Hand Eczema. Berlin: Springer Berlin. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-39546-8_33. ISBN 978-3-642-39545-1.
5. Zaidi, Zohra; Walton, Shernaz (2013). A Manual of Dermatology. New Delhi: JP Brothers Medical. p. 872. ISBN 9789350904589.
6. Palmer, Antony L; Pearson, Michael; Whittard, Paul; McHugh, Katie E; Eaton, David J (December 2016). "Current status of kilovoltage (kV) radiotherapy in the UK: installed equipment, clinical workload, physics quality control and radiation dosimetry". The British Journal of Radiology. 89 (1068): 20160641. doi:10.1259/bjr.20160641. PMC 5604929. PMID 27730839.

External links

• Xstra Learning Portal