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Superficial X-rays
ICD-992.21

Superficial X-rays are low-energy X-rays that do not penetrate very far before they are absorbed. They are produced by X-ray tubes operating at voltages in the 10–100 kV range, and therefore have peak energies in the 10–100 keV range.[1] The Maximar-100 was a widely-adopted superficial radiation therapy unit.

Precise naming and definitions of energy ranges may vary, and X-rays at the lower end of this range may also be known as Grenz rays.[2] They are useful in radiation therapy for the treatment of various benign or malignant skin problems, including skin cancer and severe eczema.[3][4] They have a useful depth of up to 5 mm.[2][5] In some locations, orthovoltage treatment is being replaced by electron therapy or brachytherapy.[6]

As well as teletherapy, X-rays in this energy range (and the low orthovoltage range) are used for imaging patients, to analyse materials and objects in industrial radiography and for crystallography.

References

  1. ^ Podgorsak, E. B. (2005). "Treatment Machines for External Beam Radiotherapy". Radiation oncology physics: a handbook for teachers and students. Vienna: International Atomic Energy Agency. p. 125. ISBN 92-0-107304-6.
  2. ^ a b Chang, David S.; Lasley, Foster D.; Das, Indra J.; Mendonca, Marc S.; Dynlacht, Joseph R. (2014). Basic Radiotherapy Physics and Biology. New York: Springer. p. 27. ISBN 9783319068411.
  3. ^ Hill, Robin; Healy, Brendan; Holloway, Lois; Kuncic, Zdenka; Thwaites, David; Baldock, Clive (21 March 2014). "Advances in kilovoltage x-ray beam dosimetry". Physics in Medicine and Biology. 59 (6): R183–R231. Bibcode:2014PMB....59R.183H. doi:10.1088/0031-9155/59/6/R183. PMID 24584183.
  4. ^ Alikhan, Ali; Maibach, Howard; Lachapelle, Jean-Marie (2013). "Radiotherapy in the Treatment of Hand Eczema". Textbook of Hand Eczema. Berlin: Springer Berlin. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-39546-8_33. ISBN 978-3-642-39545-1.
  5. ^ Zaidi, Zohra; Walton, Shernaz (2013). A Manual of Dermatology. New Delhi: JP Brothers Medical. p. 872. ISBN 9789350904589.
  6. ^ Palmer, Antony L; Pearson, Michael; Whittard, Paul; McHugh, Katie E; Eaton, David J (December 2016). "Current status of kilovoltage (kV) radiotherapy in the UK: installed equipment, clinical workload, physics quality control and radiation dosimetry". The British Journal of Radiology. 89 (1068): 20160641. doi:10.1259/bjr.20160641. PMC 5604929. PMID 27730839.

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