Chary Jaztine L.
Mangacop
BSRT 2
Radiobiology
Chapter 30
Challenge Questions
1. Define or otherwise identify the following:
a. Linear energy transfer
-Is a measure of the rate at which energy is transferred from ionizing radiation to soft tissue.
Approximately 3 keV/ μm for diagnostic x-rays.
b. Standard radiation
- Orthovoltage x-radiation in the 200 to 250 kVp range.
c. Oxygen enhancement ratio
- It is a measure of the increased radiosensitivity of tissue in the presence of oxygen.
d. Repopulation
- Repopulation is a replication of surviving cells for cellular recovery from radiation damage.
e. Extrapolation
-extrapolation refers to estimation of a value beyond the range of known values. Continuing a
straight-line relationship into an unmeasured area.
f. Threshold dose
- Threshold means it is a dose at which response to increasing x-ray intensity first occurs. Dose
below which no effect occurs.
g. Interphase death
- Radiation effect that kills a cell before its next division.
h. Dose protraction
- Reducing dose rate by delivering radiation continuously but at a reduced rate.
i. Radiation weighting factor
- A radiation weighting factor is an estimate of the effectiveness per unit dose of the given
radiation relative a to low-LET standard. It is the factor used for radiation protection that
accounts for differences in biologic effectiveness between different radiations.
j. Tribondeau
- Tribondeau is an early radiobiologist who theorized and observed that radiosensitivity was a
function of the metabolic state of the tissue being irradiated.
2. Write the formula for relative biologic effectiveness.
- RBE = dose of standard radiation to produce an effect divided by dose of test radiation to produce the
same effect.
3. Give an example of fractionated radiation.
-For example, patients receive the radiation dose at the same dose rate but broken into equal values
and given over time (a little today, a little next month, and perhaps a little next year). Radiation oncology
patients receive prescribed doses fractionated daily.
4. Why is high-pressure (hyperbaric) oxygen used in radiation oncology?
-The high pressure oxygen used in radiation oncology to able to force oxygen into tumors and make
them more radiosensitive.
5. Write the formula for the oxygen enhancement ratio.
-OER = dose necessary under anoxic conditions to produce a given effect divided by the dose necessary
under aerobic oxygenated conditions to produce the same effect.
6. How does age affect the radiosensitivity of tissue?
- The younger the tissue, the more radiosensitive it is.
7. When a radiobiologic experiment is conducted in vitro, what does this mean?
-Outside of the human body. At the cellular or molecular level.
8. Name three agents that enhance the effects of radiation.
- Halogenated pyrimidines, methotrexate and actinomycin.
9. Name three radioprotective agents.
- Cystein, cysteamine and sulfhydryl ggrou.
10. Are radioprotective agents used for human application?
- No. To be effective, they must be administered at toxic levels.
11. Explain the meaning of a radiation dose-response relationship.
- The relationship between radiation dose and effect, represented graphically.
12. What occurs in a nonlinear radiation dose-response relationship?
- It occurs an equal amount of radiation dose will not necessarily produce an equal response.
13. Explain why the linear, nonthreshold dose-response relationship is used as a model for diagnostic
imaging radiation management.
-Non-threshold implies that no dose of radiation is so small that there is no degree of risk.
14. State two of the corollaries to the law of Bergonie and Tribondeau.
- Stem cells are most sensitive. Young tissue and organs are more radiosensitive than old tissues and
organs. Tissue in a high state of metabolic activity also has high radiosensitivity. As cellular proliferation
increases, so does cellular radiosensitivity.
15. Approximately 8 Gyt of 220 kVp x-rays is necessary to produce death in an armadillo. Cobalt-60
gamma rays have a lower LET than 220 kVp x-rays; therefore, 9.4 Gyt is required for armadillo lethal- ity.
What is the RBE of 60CO compared with 220 kVp?
- RBE of Cobalt-60 = 8 Gyt/9.4 Gyt = 0.85.
16. Under fully oxygenated conditions, 90% of human cells in culture will be killed by 1.5 Gyt x-rays. If
cells are made anoxic, the dose required for 90% lethality is 4 Gyt. What is the OER?
- OER = 4 Gyt/1.5 Gyt = 2.7.
17. What are the units of LET?
-The units of LET are keV/mm.
18. Describe how RBE and LET are related.
- An increase in LET means an increase in RBE.
19. Is occupational radiation exposure fractionated, protracted, or continuous?
- Occupational radiation exposure is fractionated.
20. Describe how OER and LET are related.
- OER is LET-dependent and has highest for low-LET radiation, and decreases for high-LET radiation.
