What methods are used to prevent scattering when radiotherapy is being done? I mean how do they make sure that only the tumors are being bombarded?
Conventional radiation therapy involves aiming a source of radiation toward the diseased portion of the patient’s body. In order to be sure that the diseased part of the body is treated, the radiation beam is collimated by the use of collimators, blocks, and wedges. However, some healthy tissues will be irradiated because the tumor is almost always surrounded by normal tissue. The objective in radiation therapy is to deliver as much radiation to the tumor (the higher the dose, the higher the probability of cure) while minimizing damage to surrounding health tissues. There are other techniques used in radiation therapy called interstitial radiotherapy and intercavitary radiotherapy. In these procedures, radioactive material is inserted directly into the diseased tissue or cavity. This can be very effective in delivering a high radiation dose to the tumor while sparing surrounding healthy tissue.
