Electron beams have a finite range, after which the dose falls off rapidly. As such, electrons are suited to the treatment of superficial lesions such as skin tumours. They can also be used for intraoperative radiotherapy, to provide a boost to the tumour bed, for example, after mastectomy or lumpectomy.
But while electron radiotherapy has been available for decades, technology advancements such as the introduction of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) have resulted in a far reduced role for electrons. So is there a case for a similar effort to be focused on developing modern electron therapy technologies, or have electrons become obsolete? Read more>>
