Basic Radiotherapy Physics And Biology Apr 2026

: At the energies used in treatment, photons (X-rays) typically interact via Compton scattering , where they bounce off electrons and transfer energy to them. Direct vs. Indirect Ionization : Direct : The radiation beam itself breaks DNA strands.

Not all radiation is created equal. The describes how much energy a particle deposits as it travels through tissue: Basic Radiotherapy Physics and Biology

: These deposit energy sparsely. Most of their damage is indirect and easily repairable by healthy cells. : At the energies used in treatment, photons

: The radiation hits water molecules in the cell, creating reactive oxygen species (free radicals) that then attack the DNA. Basic Radiotherapy Physics and Biology