Radiation Oncology Glossary

Side effects from radiation therapy that occur during or shortly after treatment completion.

Treatment approach that modifies radiation plans during treatment course based on anatomical or biological changes.

Radiobiological parameter describing tissue sensitivity to fraction size changes in radiation therapy.

A radiation delivery technique where the treatment beam rotates around the patient during dose delivery.

The preferential filtering of low-energy photons from a radiation beam as it passes through tissue, resulting in a highe...

The process of varying radiation beam intensity across the treatment field to achieve desired dose distribution.

Material placed in the electron beam path to degrade beam energy and modify dose distribution characteristics.

A visualization perspective showing the treatment volume and anatomy as seen from the radiation source along the beam di...

Mathematical model comparing different fractionation schemes based on their biological effects on tissues.

A tissue-equivalent material placed on the patient's skin surface to modify the dose distribution and bring the maximum...

Internal radiation therapy where radioactive sources are placed directly inside or next to the tumor.

The shallow depth region where radiation dose gradually increases from the surface to reach maximum value in tissue for...

The anatomical volume that contains the gross tumor and areas at risk for microscopic disease spread.

A beam-shaping device that defines the shape and size of the radiation beam before it reaches the patient.

Comprehensive testing and validation process for new radiation therapy equipment before clinical use.

On-treatment imaging technique using a cone-shaped X-ray beam to verify patient positioning and anatomical changes.

Quantitative measure of how well the prescription dose distribution conforms to the target volume.

Treatment fields or beam arrangements that lie within the same geometric plane, typically the transverse plane through t...

A non-coplanar beam angle achieved by rotating the treatment couch away from zero degrees.

Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, the standardized classification system for grading treatment-related tox...

A robotic radiosurgery system that delivers highly precise radiation beams while tracking tumor motion in real-time.

Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine standard for radiation therapy data exchange.

Clinical trial design that systematically increases radiation doses to determine maximum tolerated dose and optimal trea...

Graphical representation showing the percentage of organ volume receiving specific radiation doses.