Particle therapy
Particle Therapy
Particle therapy (pronunciation: /ˈpɑːrtɪkl ˈθɛrəpi/) is a form of external beam radiotherapy that uses beams of energetic protons, neutrons, or positive ions for cancer treatment. The most common types of particle therapy are proton therapy and heavy ion therapy.
Etymology
The term "particle therapy" is derived from the English words "particle" and "therapy". "Particle" comes from the Latin "particula", meaning a small part, and "therapy" comes from the Greek "therapeia", meaning healing.
Proton Therapy
Proton therapy is a type of particle therapy that uses a beam of protons to irradiate diseased tissue. The chief advantage of proton therapy is the ability to more precisely localize the radiation dosage when compared with other types of external beam radiotherapy.
Heavy Ion Therapy
Heavy ion therapy is another type of particle therapy that uses heavier ions, such as carbon ions. Heavy ion therapy can deliver a high dose of radiation to a tumor while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
Related Terms
- External beam radiotherapy: A method of delivering a beam of high-energy x-rays to a patient's tumor.
- Protons: Subatomic particles with a positive electric charge.
- Neutrons: Subatomic particles with no electric charge.
- Ions: Atoms or molecules with a net electric charge due to the loss or gain of one or more electrons.
- Cancer: A group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Particle therapy
- Wikipedia's article - Particle therapy
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