Glossary of Radiotherapy Terms
Some common terms you may hear:
CBCT - Cone Beam Computerised Tomography - On treatment imaging prior to the administration of radiation, these are not diagnostic images. They are confirmation images and assist us in achieving a precise accurate treatment every time.
CT – Computerised Tomography - prior to radiotherapy we will use images taken from the CT planning scanner to create the targeted treatment plan.
DIBH - Deep Inspiration Breath Hold - Some patients, not all, may need to hold their breathe for up to 20 seconds due to the changes breathing has internally. There are many reasons for this, reducing irradiation of surrounding organs and optimising treatment is usually the most common. You will be told if you need to do this prior to your pre treatment CT scan.
DORAH - Department of Radiotherapy Advice and Help Line - A non-urgent Support and help line. Available Monday-Friday for queries specific to radiotherapy, 0300 019 2481<./p>
EBRT - External Beam Radiotherapy - This is a method of how radiation can be administered to the patient. Radiation is exposed from a source outside of the body via an X-Ray beam from appropriate machinery such as a linear accelerator.
IGRT - Image Guided Radiotherapy - Radiotherapy planning and treatment is guided by the information from imaging scans, such as CBCT and CT scans.
Linac - Linear Accelerator - The expert machinery used to deliver radiation at the control of therapeutic radiographers.
MDT - Multi-Disciplinary Team – A team of professionals with varied expertise and knowledge all working in unison for the desired outcome for you.
QA - Quality Assurance - Standards and procedures met by staff to ensure all aspects of radiotherapy machinery is operating as it is required and expected to.
Review Appointment - Review appointments are in place to support patients and aid the direction of their care, tracking treatment progress, your wellbeing and working with the you to better your radiotherapy treatment process where appropriate.
RWRC - Robert White Radiotherapy Centre - This is the name of our Dorchester Satellite Department, funded from the generosity of Robert White.
SGRT - Surface Guided Radiotherapy - An advanced form of technology that has eliminated the need for tattoos and provides real time tracking of your position, breathing and moving. This technology also aids in replicating the exact position you were in during their pretreatment planning CT scan.
SXR - Superficial Radiotherapy - Superficial radiotherapy is radiotherapy delivered to tumours or lesions that are closer to the surface of the skin and uses lower energy radiation.
UHD - University Hospitals Dorset
