History of Radiation Therapy Technology

Abstract

Here we review the evolutionary history of radiation therapy technology through the festschrift of articles in celebration of the 30th anniversary of Korean Society of Medical Physics (KSMP). Radiation therapy technology used in clinical practice has evolved over a long period of time. Various areas of science, such as medical physics, mechanical engineering, and computer engineering, have contributed to the continual development of new devices and techniques. The scope of this review was restricted to two areas; i.e., output energy production and functional development, because it is not possible to include all development processes of this technology due to space limitations. The former includes the technological transition process from the initial technique applied to the first model to the latest technique currently used in a variety of machines. The latter has had a direct effect on treatment outcomes and safety, which changed the paradigm of radiation therapy, leading to new guidelines on dose prescriptions, innovation of dose verification tools, new measurement methods and calculation systems for radiation doses, changes in the criteria for errors, and medical law changes in all countries. Various complex developments are covered in this review. To the best of our knowledge, there have been few reviews on this topic and we consider it very meaningful to provide a review in the festschrift in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the KSMP.

Health Physics (보건 물리학) in South Korea: Building a Research Community in a Post-Colonial Society, 1959–early 1970s

“…Keijo was not the colonial site to explore the possibility of radiation therapy, and Severance Hospital, an institution founded through overseas mission resources, also explored radiation’s potential in medicine, albeit under highly specific conditions. The radiation oncology department at Severance reported the use of Japanese technology in the late 1930s (1937), using X‑rays primarily for diagnosis and treatment of cancer (Huh & Kim 2020 ). With Japanese technology appearing again following 1965, this time it received sponsorship from OTCA (Overseas Technology Cooperation Agency), the predecessor to JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) installing radiation therapy equipment at Severance in the early 1970s (Huh & Kim 2020 ).…”

“…The radiation oncology department at Severance reported the use of Japanese technology in the late 1930s (1937), using X‑rays primarily for diagnosis and treatment of cancer (Huh & Kim 2020 ). With Japanese technology appearing again following 1965, this time it received sponsorship from OTCA (Overseas Technology Cooperation Agency), the predecessor to JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) installing radiation therapy equipment at Severance in the early 1970s (Huh & Kim 2020 ).…”

“…The same body of literature referencing the device at Severance during the colonial period also notes uses of x‑ray technology in the period 1953–1960, in the immediate aftermath of the Korean War. The OTCA-sponsored device next arrived in 1972, marking the beginning of more ambitious attempts at cancer treatment, with more aggressive targeting for therapy (Huh & Kim 2020 ). This technology from Japan was more widespread in the post-1965 period, as Korean public health campaigns at the time relied heavily on Japanese-manufactured goods.…”

The Interplay among Radiation Therapy, Antibiotics and the Microbiota: Impact on Cancer Treatment Outcomes

“…Nevertheless, such initial negative perception provided the impetus for investigations on several important areas of research that greatly expanded our knowledge of radiation biology. Most importantly, it led to fundamental advances for the development of external beam-based radiation therapy (RT) protocols for the treatment of cancer, including (a) the use of different IR sources, (b) progress in studies on radiation physics, (c) incorporation of advanced computer technologies to the treatment planning, and (d) technologically advanced equipment that facilitates the precise delivery of radiation to the tumors with minimal damage to the normal tissues [3,4]. Although protocols for the internal delivery of radiation to tumors such as brachytherapy [5][6][7], the localized implant of radioactive seeds into, or as near as possible to, the tumor tissues, as well as the systemic treatment with tumor-specific, receptor-targeted radiopharmaceuticals [8][9][10], have become valuable and effective alternatives or complements to external-beam RT, this review will focus on the influence of the microbiota and the use of antibiotics on cancer patient outcomes after treatment with external-beam RT.…”

Quantitative Radiomics Approach to Assess Acute Radiation Dermatitis in Breast Cancer Patients

“…Acute radiation dermatitis is a common side effect in patients undergoing radiotherapy for breast cancer. The physical manifestations of radiodermatitis can range from faint erythema and desquamation to skin necrosis and ulceration, which impacts a patient's physical condition and quality of life [1][2][3][4][5] . Risk factors for radiodermatitis include both treatment-and patient-related factors; however, they primarily depend on skin doses, which are classi ed as the treatment-related factor [6][7][8] .…”