TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Principles of Radiation Therapy A1 - Koh, Wui-Jin A1 - Sales, Lindsay R. A2 - Karlan, Beth Y. A2 - Bristow, Robert E. A2 - Li, Andrew J. PY - 2015 T2 - Gynecologic Oncology: Clinical Practice and Surgical Atlas 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. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Medical CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/03/28 UR - obgyn.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1106571869 ER -