Superficial X-rays

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Superficial X-rays
Intervention
ICD-9:	92.21

Superficial X-rays are low energy X-rays that do not penetrate very far before they are absorbed. They are produced by linear accelerators operating at voltages in the 50–200 kV range, and therefore have an energy in the 50–200 keV range (see External beam radiotherapy for an explanation of the maximum and mean energies as a function of voltage). They are useful in radiation therapy for the treatment of various benign or malignant skin problems, and have a useful depth of a couple of millimetres — certainly not more than 5 mm.

By convention, the voltage is used to characterize X- and gamma-ray beams (in volts), whilst electron beams are characterized by their energies (in electronvolts).

Radiation oncology
(ICD-9-CM V3 92.2-92.3 · ICD-10-PCS D)

Specific
therapies

Teletherapy¹

by photon	Superficial X-rays Orthovoltage X-rays Megavoltage X-rays Radiosurgery / Stereotactic radiation therapy Cyberknife Gamma Knife CHHIP Cobalt therapy

by electron	Electron therapy

by hadron	Particle therapy fast neutron boron neutron-capture proton

Brachytherapy²

Prostate (¹²⁵I · ¹⁰³Pd)
Plaque radiotherapy (¹²⁵I)
Selective internal radiation therapy / SIR-Spheres / TheraSphere (⁹⁰Y)

Unsealed source
radiotherapy3

Other

Conditions

Features and
equipment

¹ Also known as external-beam radiotherapy. ² Also known as sealed-source radiation therapy. ³ Also known as systemic radioisotope therapy.

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