RT Book, Section A1 Koh, Wui-Jin A1 Sales, Lindsay R. A2 Karlan, Beth Y. A2 Bristow, Robert E. A2 Li, Andrew J. SR Print(0) ID 1106571869 T1 Principles of Radiation Therapy T2 Gynecologic Oncology: Clinical Practice and Surgical Atlas YR 2015 FD 2015 PB McGraw-Hill Medical PP New York, NY SN 9780071749268 LK hemonc.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1106571869 RD 2024/03/29 AB Radiotherapy plays an integral role in the care of many gynecologic cancers and can be used for definitive management, adjuvant therapy, or palliation. The principal basis of therapeutic radiation lies in its ability to cause ionization, or the creation of free electrons and free radicals, when absorbed by biologic matter. These highly reactive chemical species interact with critical molecules in a cell (in particular deoxyribonucleic acid [DNA]) and, if unrepaired, lead to loss of cellular reproductive capacity and eventual cell death. Ionizing radiation can be emitted from radioactive isotopes, both naturally occurring and man-made, or created using specialized high-voltage but nonradioactive equipment such as linear accelerators.