(BQ) Part 2 book Radiation treatment and radiation reactions in dermatology presents the following contents: Superficial radiation therapy in an office setting, tumor staging in dermatology, treatment of precancerous lesions, electron therapy of skin carcinoma, cutaneous melanoma, side effects of radiation treatment,...
5 Grenz Ray and Ultrasoft X-Ray Therapy Michael Webster Contents 5.1 5.1 Introduction 73 5.2 Physics 73 5.3 5.3.1 5.3.2 5.3.3 74 74 74 5.3.4 5.3.5 5.3.6 5.3.7 5.3.8 5.3.9 5.3.10 5.3.11 Biology Effects on Langerhans Cells Effects on Dermatitis Factors Affecting Grenz Ray Erythema Regional Skin Sensitivity Variability High-Dose (>10 Gy) Effects Effect on Pigmentation Nail Transmission Effect on Psoriasis Cancer Production Effect on Melanocytes Overdose 75 75 75 75 75 76 76 76 76 5.4 Equipment 76 5.5 Safety Requirements 77 5.6 Practical Aspects 78 5.7 5.7.1 5.7.2 5.7.3 5.7.4 78 78 79 82 5.7.5 Clinical Aspects Hand Eczema/Dermatitis Psoriasis Palmoplantar Pustulosis Actinic Keratoses and Bowen’s Disease Lentigo Maligna 83 84 5.8 Side Effects and Carcinogenesis 84 Conclusion 85 References 85 M Webster, MBBS, FACD Department of Radiotherapy, Skin and Cancer Foundation of Victoria, Carlton, VIC, Australia e-mail: michaelrwebster@bigpond.com Introduction Grenz rays are part of the electromagnetic spectrum In 1923, Gustav Bucky developed a hot cathode vacuum tube with a lithium borate glass window capable of delivering low-energy X-rays which he labelled grenz rays (grenz = border in German) as he believed that the biological effects resembled ultraviolet light in some ways and traditional X-rays in other ways 5.2 Physics Grenz rays form that part of ultrasoft X-rays (kVp