University:
College
Course:
College Physics
Academic year:

2024
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46

Pages:

2
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customer-8464532

Ionising- gamma Thursday 6th February 2025 Gamma radiation: Type of electromagnetic radiation with high energy and short wavelength, emitted from the nucleus of a radioactive atom, used for diagnoses and treatment in medicine. Natural sources, cosmic rays, radioactive materials, uranium, thorium and radon. Artificial source, produced by nuclear reaction. Nuclear decay, gamma radiation is emitted when an unstable nucleus transitions from a higher energy state to a lower. High energy and penetrating power- can pass through the body easily. Interaction with matter- able to interact with mater, emitted as light photons. Biological impact – can damage biological tissues by ionising atoms in the body, dna mutation. Radio nuclei, unstable nuclei, emit radiation. Radiotherapy: Medical treatment uses high energy radiation to destroy cancer cells. Radiation targeted to kill cells so they don’t multiply cells. Multiply faster than healthy cells. (external)LINAC- machines that direct gamma rays at tumours from outside the body. Patient doesn’t feel that radiation, but the tumour absorbs the energy. How it works The LINAC uses electricity to speed up electrons The LINAC moves around the patient, delivering radiation from multiple angles The LINAC can be adjusted to deliver the precise dose of radiation to the tumour (internal) brachytherapy- insert radio nuclei in the body near the tumour, used for breast, prostrative and cervix cancer. Principle of radiotherapy: A radiotherapy machine directs high-energy radiation at the area being treated. The radiation creates small breaks in the DNA of cancer cells. The damaged DNA prevents the cancer cells from dividing and repairing themselves. The cancer cells die and are broken down and removed by the body. Case study- Successful Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer in a Patient With Hereditary Coproporphyria