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Conformal External Beam Radiation Therapy

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Management of Prostate Cancer

Part of the book series: Current Clinical Urology ((CCU))

Abstract

External beam radiation therapy (RT) has been an essential component in the curative treatment of prostrate cancer for several decades. During the early clinical applications of cobalt beam teletherapy, the methods used to treat prostrate cancer relied on broad anatomic and physical principles that were applied in a general fashion to all patients with presumed localized disease. The target tissues (including the prostate, seminal vesicles, and pelvic lymph nodes) were not differentiated from the surrounding organs such as the bladder and the rectum, limiting the application of high radiation doses. The higher the radiation dose administered to a given volume of cancer, the more likely it is that the cancer will be permanently controlled—this is a basic tenet in radiation biology that has been clinically validated in several reports, both retrospective and prospective (1–7). In the last decade or so, the availability of high-energy megavoltage X-ray machines and the incorporation of cross-sectional imaging modalities and computerized treatment planning systems have been instrumental in the evolution of external radiation beam therapy as a safer and more effective option for men with localized prostate cancer. This chapter highlights the relevant clinical applied anatomy, the technical aspects of conformal external beam radiation therapy techniques, and the current disease control and quality of life outcome expectations.

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Authors
  1. Arul Mahadevan
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  2. Patrick A. Kupelian
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Urology Oncology, Glickman Urological Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Eric A. Klein MD (Head) (Head)

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© 2004 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Mahadevan, A., Kupelian, P.A. (2004). Conformal External Beam Radiation Therapy. In: Klein, E.A. (eds) Management of Prostate Cancer. Current Clinical Urology. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-776-5_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-776-5_15

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-5711-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-776-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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