Towards Safer Radiotherapy

Glossary of terms
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Anthropomorphic phantom
Asymmetric fields
Bolus
Brachytherapy
Clinical oncologist
Clinical scientist
Clinical target volume (CTV)
Clinical technologist
Cobalt-60
Commissioning
Concession
Conformal radiotherapy
A model of a human into which radiotherapy detectors are placed
to measure dose delivered. Used prior to very complex treatments
or during developmental work
Where the radiotherapy fields are set up so one half of the beam
is larger than the other. This is usually used to avoid critical
structures or plan the treatment around a specified point
Tissue equivalent material laid on skin to increase the surface dose
Radiotherapy administered by implanting or placing a radioactive
material into, or close to, a tumour minimising the dose to
surrounding normal tissue
A doctor who specialises in the treatment of cancers using
radiotherapy and chemotherapy
A specialist with scientific understanding providing advice and
innovation in the planning and delivery of radiotherapy treatment
and services
The area of the body at risk of having tumour cells present,
included the GTV and areas of possible microscopic spread
A specialist in radiation treatment tasks such as planning and
verification, preparation of brachytherapy sources or manufacture
of immobilisation devices
A radiotherapy machine which uses radioactive cobalt as a source
of radiation
When baseline data and characteristics of the equipment are
acquired to support the clinical delivery of precise and safe
treatment
Where a planned deviation from standard protocol is planned and
approved
Treatment technique, which aims to shape the 3D high-dose
volume to the planning target volume while minimising dose to
healthy tissue
Correctable radiation incident See Section 3.1.2
Course(s)
Cranio-spinal irradiation
A pre-planned set of fractions of radiotherapy given to a part of
the body
A specialised technique used to treat the brain and spinal cord
Towards Safer Radiotherapy