Myths and truths of radiotherapy. Brief review and practical guide aimed at graduate physicians, undergraduate medical school students and radiotherapy technician students: questions and answers.

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35954/SM2024.43.1.8.e401

Keywords:

neoplasms, radiation oncology, radiodermatitis, radiotherapy

Abstract

Introduction: Patients routinely come to the office asking about the possible toxic effects of radiation oncology treatment on normal tissues. This brief literature review in question and answer format presents, through scientific evidence and evidence-based medicine, some of the questions encountered by the physician who treats or interacts with a cancer patient. The objective of this review is to support the response of general practitioners, medical oncologists, medical physicists and radiotherapy technologists to these questions.

Methodology: A non-systematic bibliographic search was carried out in Google Scholar, MedLine/PubMed and Scielo, limiting the search to works published in the last 10 years.

Results: After consultation with professionals directly related to radiotherapy, recurrent doubts raised by patients were identified.

Discussion: With the information gathered, answers were given to the most frequent questions previously established.

 

Received for review: November 2023.

Accepted for publication: January 2024.

Correspondence: Diego Lamas 1357, apto. 104. Montevideo, Uruguay. Tel. +598 099682258.

Contact e-mail: jferrercriado@gmail.com

 This article was approved by the Editorial Board.

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Author Biographies

Joaquin Carlos Ferrer Criado , Hospital de Clínicas

Universidad de la República. Facultad de Medicina, Hospital de Clínicas. Montevideo, Uruguay.Residente de la unidad académica de radioterapia. 

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MANUSCRIPT: Conception; design; data acquisition and analysis; interpretation and discussion of results; and approval of the final version.

Victoria Moran Ramos , Universidad de la República de Uruguay

Universidad de la República, Facultad de Medicina. Residente de pediatría, Clínica pediátrica A. Residente de CASMU. Montevideo, Uruguay.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MANUSCRIPT: Drafting and critical revision.

Agustin Rosich, Hospital de Clínicas

Universidad de la República, Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas. Montevideo, Uruguay.

Posgrado de la unidad académica de radioterapia.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MANUSCRIPT: Data analysis; interpretation and discussion of results.

Karina Ochandorena, Hospital de Clínicas

Universidad de la República, Facultad de Medicina, Hospital de Clínicas. Montevideo, Uruguay.

Prof. Agda. de la Unidad Académica de Radioterapia. 

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MANUSCRIPT: Design, drafting and critical revision.

Federico Lorenzo, Hospital de Clínicas

Universidad de la República, Facultad de Medicina, Hospital de CFlínicas. Montervideo, Uruguay.

Prof. Tit. de la Unidad Académica de Radioterapia. 

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MANUSCRIPT: Design, drafting and critical revision.

 

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Published

2024-05-02

How to Cite

1.
Ferrer Criado JC, Moran Ramos V, Rosich A, Ochandorena K, Lorenzo F. Myths and truths of radiotherapy. Brief review and practical guide aimed at graduate physicians, undergraduate medical school students and radiotherapy technician students: questions and answers. Salud Mil [Internet]. 2024 May 2 [cited 2026 Apr. 17];43(1):e401. Available from: https://revistasaludmilitar.uy/ojs/index.php/Rsm/article/view/429

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