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176 Cards in this Set
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An anterior incision into the abdominal wall, with the construction of a colostomy followed by a perineal incision to remove the rectum, anus, and drainage lymphatics. |
Abdominoperineal Resection |
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The process whereby energy is taken out of a beam by a meterial and kept within that material. |
Absorption |
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A type of carcinoma arising from epithelium which is glandular in nature. |
Adenocarcinoma |
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Tests which are run on new machines to confirm the equipment does what it's supposed to do. |
Acceptance testing |
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Particulate radiation, +2 charge, which consists of two protons and two neutrons similar to a Helium atom; emitted during nuclear decay. |
Alpha particle |
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Medication which serves to relieve pain. |
Analgesics |
Narcotic analgesics = morphine, codeine, Demerol.
Non-narcotic analgesics = acetaminophen, propoxyphene, aspirin. |
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Cells which are undifferentiated |
Anaplastic |
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A decrease in the normal level of peripheral red blood calls. |
Anemia |
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Medications which suppress sensation/feeling. |
Anesthetics |
Local=procaine (Novocain), lidocaine (xylocaine) |
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Sternal angle or junction of the manubrium and the body of the sternum, Occuring at T4. |
Angle of Louis |
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Medications which calm anxiety. |
Antianxiety Medications |
Lorazepam (Ativan), diazepam (Valium) and chlordizepoxide (Librium) |
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Medications which suppress the growth of bacteria. |
Antiobiotics |
Erythromycin, penicillin, tetracycline |
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Medications which slow the clotting of blood. |
Anticoagulants |
Warfarin (coumadin) |
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Medications which inhibit or control seizures. |
Anticonvulsants |
Clonazepam (Klonopin), phenytoin (Dilantin) |
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The threat of touching a patient in a way that would cause injury. |
Assault |
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The number of protons in a nucleus. |
Atomic number |
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The removal of photons and electrons from a radiation beam by scatter or absorption as it travels through a medium. |
Attenuation |
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The right of patients to make decisions for themselves, free from interference of others. |
Autonomy |
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When radiation is scattered back to the source. |
Back scatter |
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Ratio of the dose with scattering medium (tissue or phantom) to the dose at the Dmax without a scattering medium (in air or free space). |
Back scatter factor |
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A condition in which the distal esophagus is lined with columnar epithelium rather than stratified squamous epithelium. |
Barrett's Esophagus |
Usually occurs with reflux. Associated with an increased risk in the development of adenocarcinomas of the distal esophagus. |
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Act of harmful, unwanted, unwarranted contact. |
Battery |
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The degree to which the dose is even across a beam profile. Flatness is defined across the central 80% of the beam at a depth of 10cm. |
Beam Flatness |
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A one dimensional representation of the variation of beam intensity. |
Beam profile |
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This is a device which sits opposite the head of the gantry and is part of linacs whose rooms do not contain sufficient shielding. |
Beam stop |
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An element of high energy linacs which serves to transport or bend the stream of electrons upon leaving the accelerating tube so that the stream of electrons runs vertically down toward the patient. |
Bending magnet |
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Doing good. |
Beneficence |
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Tumors that are well differentiated encapsulated and slow growing. |
Benign |
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Amount of energy required to remove remove an electron from an atom. |
Atomic Binding Energy |
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Material that mimics tissue in terms of how it interacts with radiation.
Can be used to increase surgace dose and to compensate for tissue irregularities. |
Bolus |
Wet gauze, vaseline gauze, paraffin wax, superstuff or superflab, water bags. |
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Treatment method which uses radioactive sorces to deliver a high dose from inside the patient. |
Brachytherapy |
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An interaction that occurs at the target in which high-speed electrons interact with the electrostatic field of the nucleus of the target atoms. The +/- attraction between the electrons and the nucleus causes the electrons to slow down and this change in speed results in the production of xray photons. |
Brehmsstrahlung Radiation |
Sometimes called "braking" radiation |
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A state of general ill health and malnutrition with early satiety; electrolyte and water imbalances; and progressive loss of body weight, fat, and muscle. |
Cachexia |
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Tumors arising from the epithelium which include tissues that line or cover a surface or cavity. |
Carcinomas |
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The degree to which a cell resembles its cell of origin. |
Cellular differentiation |
A well differentiated cell is one that is mature and serves a specific function. A poorly differentiated cell is an immature cell. |
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This is formed at the junction of the upper and lower lip. |
Commissure of Mouth |
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Cone shape bumps that are organized in an inverted V at the back of the tongue. The papillae serve as a demarcation between the anterior 2/3's of the tongue (called the oral tongue) from the posterior 1/3 of the tongue (called the base of the tongue) |
Circumvallate Papillae |
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A portable ionization chamber survey meter used to make accurate measurements of low-intensity ionizing radiation fields. |
Cutie Pie Ionization Chamber |
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Act of swallowing. |
Deglutition |
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The region between the skin surface and the depth of Dmax. |
Dose Buildup Region |
A build-up region is characteristic of megavoltage irradiation. In this region the dose increases with depth until it reaches a maximum depth of Dmax. |
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Absorbed dose x quality factor Unit is Sv or Rem. |
Dose Equivalent |
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The depth where 100% of the dose is deposited. |
Dose Maximum |
For MeV energies, the Dmax depth is below the skin surface, thus providing skin sparing. The depth of Dmax primarily depends on the primary energy. C0-60= .5 cm, 4MV=1cm, 10MV=2.5 cm , 18MV= 3.5cm, 24MV = 4 cm |
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A plot of target or normal structure volume as a function of dose. A very useful tool which helps physicists and doctor evaluate plans. |
Dose Volume Histogram |
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Difficulty in swallowing. The sensation of food sticking in the throat. |
Dysphagia |
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Difficult, labored, or uncomfortable breathing. |
Dyspnea |
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The total time or number of days a treatment course is protracted. |
Elapsed Days |
Always starts at 0; includes treatment days and non-treatment days. |
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Component of the linac that is responsible for producing electrons and injecting them into the accelerator structure. Considered the cathode of the linac. |
Electron gun |
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The study of disease incidence. |
Epidemiology |
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Nosebleed |
Epistaxis |
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Amount of ionization produced by photons in air per unit mass of air; units are roentgen (R) or coulomb per kilogram (C/kg). |
Exposure |
1 R = 2.58 x 10^-4 C/kg |
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The act of restricting another using force or confinement. |
False Imprisonment |
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Diameter of the CT scanning window. |
Field of View |
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Dose per treatment. |
Fraction dose |
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Photon emanating from a nucleus. Identical to xray photons except for it's origin frmo teh nucleus rather than the orbital electron shells. |
Gamm ray |
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The most common type of CNS tumor. |
Glioma |
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Grief Cycle |
Shock, Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Testing, Acceptance |
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Method of categorizing the aggressiveness of a tumor based on the degree of differentiation. |
Grade |
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Growth of glandular tissue in male breast. |
Gynocomastia |
Benign condition that may be treated using radiation. |
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Presence of blood in the urine. |
Hematuria |
Common symptom of bladder and kidney tumors. |
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The iron containing protein component of red blood cells that transports oxygen. |
Hemoglobin |
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Coughing up blood from the respiratory tract. |
Hemoptysis |
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Formation of new extra osseous bone in soft tissue surrounding a joint. |
Heterotopic bone |
A benign condition treated with radiation using a single high dose fraction. |
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The angle between the central rays of two intersecting beams. |
Hinge Angle |
As hinge angle increases, the wedge angle decreases. |
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Units which correspond to the electron density of a specific tissue. |
Hounsfield Units |
(HUs) Air=-1000, Water=0, CSF=15, Blood=20, Muscle=50, Bone=1000 |
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An emergency condition in which severe blood and fluid loss makes the heart unable to pump enough blood to the body. It can cause many organs to stop working. |
Hypovolemic Shock |
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Treatment approach which attempts to apmplify the body's own defense system to fight. |
Immunotherapy |
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Into the space containing cerebral spinal fluid. |
Intrathecal |
The poi |
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Point of intersection of the three axes of rotation (gantry, collimator, & table) |
Isocenter |
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A two dimensional representation of how dose varies with position within a beam along parallel and perpendicular directions; A collection of points all having the same dose. |
Isodose Curve |
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Protein malnutrition that includes an adequate intake of carbohydrates and fats but an inadequate intake of protein. |
Kwashiorkor |
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A high power microwave amplifier used to power high energy linacs. |
Kystron |
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Pain resembling sudden electric shock throughout the body. It is produced by flexing of the neck or some cervical trauma. |
L'hermittes Syndrome |
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A condition characterized by an elevated number of white cells in the blood. |
Leukocytosis |
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A decrease in the white blood cell count. |
Leukopenia |
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Written defamation. |
Libel |
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Describes the fraction of a beam of xrays or gamma rays that is absorbed or scattered per unit thickness of absorber. Basically accounts for the number of atoms in a cubic cm volume of material and the probability of a photon being scattered or absorbed from the nucleus or an electron of one of these atoms. |
Linear Attenuation Coefficient |
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Energy absorbed per unit distance of ionizing particles passing through a material. |
Linear Energy Transfer |
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An antidiarrheal medication that prevents spasms in muscles of the gut and bladder by relaxing them, and can slow the function of the bowel to treat diarrhea. |
Lomotil |
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Swelling of the lymp due to excessive accumulation of fluid in the tissues. |
Lympedema |
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The ration of image size to object size. |
Magnification factor |
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Tumors may range from well differentiated to undifferentiated, invasive, and more rapidly dividing. |
Malignant |
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Calorie malnutrition that is observed in patients who are slender or slightly underwight and characterized by weight loss of 7-10% and fat and muscle depletion. |
Marasmus |
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The number of protons and neutrons in a nucleus. |
Mass Number |
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Process of germ cell division which results in 4 daughter cells with a haploid (23) number of chromosomes. |
Meiosis |
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Incorrect application or delivery of a prescribed dose of radiation therapy, which can be minor or major and may cause death of serious injury to the patient depending on the extent of the dose. |
Misadministration |
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Process of somatic cell division which results in two daughter cells having diploid (46) number of chromosomes. |
Mitosis |
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A surgical method in which a skin cancer lesion is removed one layer at a time and examined microscopically. |
Moh's surgery |
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Skin starts to thin & then starts to weep because of loss of integrity of the epithelial barrier. |
Moist desquamation |
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A reduction in bone marrow function. |
Myelosuppression |
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The lowest point and the time of greatest depression of blood values. |
Nadir |
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Dead tissue. |
Necrosis |
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New growth, applies to an abnormal growth process resulting in the formation of a neoplasm or tumor. |
Neoplasia |
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Avoidance of harmful actions. |
Nonmaleficence |
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An infection that is acquired in a hospital. |
Nosocomial Infection |
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Fixation of the ovaries behind the uterus. |
Oophoropexy |
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Organ or critical structure that must be considered when planning a particular field. |
Organ at Risk (OAR) |
ex. spine, small bowel, heart, lens of eye. |
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IMages taken at perpendicular or 90 degree angles from each other. |
Orthogonal films |
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Difficulty breathing except in an upright position. |
Orthopnea |
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Treatment using 150-500 kV beam energies, HVL in mm of copper, SSD of 50 cm, limited in treatment of tumors deeper than 2-3 cm. |
Orthovoltage Therapy |
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Death of bone cells. |
Osteonecrosis |
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An earache. |
Otalgia |
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The ration of dose rate of a given field size to the dose rate of a reference field size. |
Output factor |
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Response of cells to radiation in the absence of O2 (hypoxic conditions)/ in the precense of oxygen (oxic conditions) |
Oxygen Enhancement Ratio |
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X-ray interaction with matter in which the nuclear field causes the creation of an electron (negatron) and positron. |
Pair Production |
This interaction has a threshold energy of 1.02 Mev. |
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The feeding of a person intravenously; total bypass of the GI system. |
Parenteral Nutrition |
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A technique used in partial rotational therapy where the isocenter is placed beyond the target volume in order to achieve a more uniform distribution. The rule of thumb to find the depth of isocenter is to multiply the tumor depth by 1.5 cm. |
Past Pointing |
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The low dose regions along the edges of the beam. |
Penumbra |
Geometric penumbra = ss x {(SSD+depth)-SSD}/SDD |
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The ratio, expressed as a percentage, of the absorbed dose at a given depth to the abdsorbed dose at a fixed regerence depth, usually Dmax. |
Percent Depth Dose |
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An x-ray interaction with matter where the photon energy is given entirely to an electron in an atom. 1/E*3, Z*3. |
Photoelectric Effect |
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A packet of energy traveling through space at the speed of light (in a vacuum). |
Photon |
Photons have no mass and no charge, only energy. |
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The time required for half the nuclei of a specific radionuclide or radioactive substance to undergo radioactive decay. |
Physical Half-Life |
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Picture element, each cell on the image matrix. |
Pixel |
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An iron deficiency anemia characterized by esophageal webs and atrophic glossitis. |
Plummer-Vision Syndrome |
It predisposes an individual to the development of esophageal cancer. |
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2 cm cephalic to the cervical os along the tandem and 2 cm perpendicular to the plane of the tandem. |
Point A |
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2 cm cephalic to the cervic os and 5 cm lateral from the patients midline. |
Point B |
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Occurs when the number of electrons is less than the number of protons. |
Positive Ion |
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The depth beyond which the dosage of the electron beam drops to nearly 0%. Found by taking the MeV of the beam divided by 2 (MeV/2=PR) |
Practical Range of Electrons |
(MeV/2=PR) |
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Positive particle in a nucleus. |
Proton |
A proton is at the nucleus of the common hydrogen atom. |
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Period of time a course of treatment is given. |
Protraction |
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Adenine and guanine-their bases are attached to ribose. |
Purines |
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Cytosine and thymine |
Pyrimidine |
- a crucial property of the purines and pyrimidines is their ability to form hydrogen-bonded pairs composed of one purine and one pyrimidine, such as guanine-cytosine and adenine-thymine. |
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A systematic quality analysis and review of patient care data. |
Quality assurance |
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A basic unit of the amount of radiation deposited. Does not take into account the type of radiation, which can influence the effect on body tissues. |
Rad |
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The process of ionizing water resulting in the splitting of water molecules. |
Radiolysis |
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The time it takes the computer to analyze and process the info received from the detectors of the CT and display it on a TV monitor. |
Reconstruction time |
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Equals dose from 250 keV x-ray divided by dose from test radiation to produce the same biologic effect. |
Relative Biologic Effectiveness (RBE) |
As LET increases, RBE increases. |
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A basic unit of radiation dose equivalent, which is based on both the dose (rad/Gy) and type of radiation (Quality factor) |
Rem |
100 Rem=1 Sievert |
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A malignancy of skeletal muscle origin that can occur in many areas of the body and disseminates early. |
Rhabdomyosarcoma |
#1 sarcoma in children |
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Exposure; Unit measuring the number of ionizations in air (x or gamma rays) |
Roentgen |
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Concept that healthcare professionals must be faithful in their role. |
Role fidelity. |
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Conforms the target volume of high dose radiation to the cancerous tissue while minimizing radiation to the surrounding normal tissues. |
Rotational therapy |
It has been used most commonly to treat prostate cancer in combo with hormal therapy. |
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A malignancy arising from somewhere other than epithelial tissues of the body. |
Sarcoma |
High tendency to metastasize to the lungs. These tumors arise from mesenchymal cells (connective tissue such as bone, cartilage, blood vessels, muscle) |
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Process whereby protons are removed from a radiation beam, also the photons are removed. |
Scatter |
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The ratio of the scattered dose at a given point to the dose in free space at the same point. |
Scatter air ratio |
The difference between the tissue air ratio for a given field size and the tissue air ratio for a zero field size. SAR=TAR(d,r1)-TAR(d,0). |
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Thin metal sheet serves to expand the useful size of the therapy beam. Sits on the carousel and rotates into position when an electron beam is programmed at the console. |
Scattering foil |
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The primary drainage lymph node. |
Sentinel node |
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The international unit of meausurement for dose equivalent. |
Sievert |
1 Sievert = 1oo rems |
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A gap placed between two fields usually from previous treatment to an area close to where treatment will begin for the second time. Used in order to prevent overdose to one area. |
SKin gap |
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Effect whreby high energy x-ray beams attain 100% dose at a depth greater than zero. |
Skin sparing |
The superficial tissues are "spared" |
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Oral defamation. |
Slander |
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Non-productive cells of the body; all cells of the body except the sex of the cells (germ cells). |
Somatic cells |
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The distance from the source of the radiation to the axis of rotation of the treatment room. |
Source to axis distance |
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The distance from the source of the radiation to the patient's skin. |
Source to skin Distance |
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Refers to the clarity or the measure of detail in a CT image. |
Spatial resolution |
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3x10*8m/sec or 3x10*10cm/s |
Speed of light |
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Method of defining a tumor's size and extent at the time of diagnosis. |
Staging |
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Narrowing of a passage. |
Stenosis |
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Treatments using 50-150 kV beam energies, HVL in mm of aluminum, SSD of 15-20cm, effective for tumors no deeper than .5cm |
Superficial therapy |
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The distance from the source of the machine to the film. |
Target to film distance |
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The mass of tissue to be treated to the tumor dose in order to ensure that the tumor volume is completely treated. |
Target volume |
Includes the tumor and a margin of tissue around the tumor. |
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Dilation of the surface blood vessels caused by the loss of capillary tone, resulting in a fine spider vein appearance on the skin surface. |
Telangectasia |
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Ineffective and painful straining during a bowel movement. |
Tenesmus |
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The ratio of tissue tolerance dose to tumor lethal dose. |
Therapeutic ratio |
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Ionization chamber whose detector volume is in the shape of a sewing thimble. |
Thimble ionization chamber |
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A reduction in the number of circulating platelets. |
Thrombocytopenia |
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Ratio of absorbed dose at a given depth in phantom to the absorbed dose at the same point in free space. |
Tissue air ratio |
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Ratio of absorbed dose at a given depth in phantom to the absorbed dose at the same point at the level of Dmax in phantom. |
Tissue maximum ratio |
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Solid state radiation detector that absorbs radiation energy and, when heated, appropriately, emits an amount of light related to the energy absorbed. |
TLD |
LiF is most common type of crystal used in TLD construction. |
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Type of target used in megavoltage x-ray machines in which the photon beam is in the same direction as electron beam. |
Transmission |
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Type of targed used in which the photon beam is in the same direction as electron stream. The target is in position when generating photon beams but retracts when employing an electron beam treatment. |
Transmission target |
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A neurologic syndrome caused by inflammation of the spinal cord. It is uncommon but not rare. |
Transverse myelitis |
Myelitis is a nonspecific term for inflammation of the spinal cord. Transverse refers to involvement across one level of the spinal cord. |
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Defines how much of the radiation is transmitted through a block tray. |
Tray factor |
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GTV |
Gross tumor palpable or visible tumor volume |
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CTV |
The visible (imaged) or palpable tumor plus any margin of subclinical disease that needs to be eliminated through the treatment planning and delivery process. |
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PTV |
The volume that indicates the clinical target volume plus margins for geometric uncertainties, such as patient motion, beam penumbra, and treatment setup differences. |
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A reduction in the number of circulating platelets. |
Tumor dose |
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Hives. |
Urticaria |
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Concept of truthfulness within healthcare. |
Verocity |
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Volume element; a pixel and the slice thickness or volume. |
Voxel |
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Enclosed metal device in which microwaves travel. |
Waveguide |
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Serves to alter the angle of isodose lines at a specific depth in the patient. |
Wedge |
Wedges reduce the dose in areas of overlap between wedged-pair fields. |
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The angle between the slanted isodose line and a line perpendicular to the central axis of the beam. |
Wedge angle |
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This ratio of doses with and without the edge, at a point in phantom along the central axis of the beam. |
Wedge factor |
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Represents the central Hounsfield unit of all the CT numbers within the window width. |
Window level |
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Set at the treatment console to deliver treatment. combination of dose, taking into account distance of the patient from the machine, depth of the tumor, field size, presence odd blocks or wedges. |
Monitor Units |
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The range of numbers displayed or the contrast on a CT image. |
Window Width |
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