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Mankind has evolved in a sea of radiation. We have been bombarded constantly by X rays, y rays, UV rays, and particulate radiations from outer space, and by terrestrial radiations from the ground we walk on, from our building materials, and from our own bodies. Recently, we have become increasingly subjected to man-made radiations, especially from the medical and defense industries. All of these radiations are capable of affecting us biologically, both to our benefit and to our detriment. This book provides a thorough review of the physical and biological dosimetry of these radiations. It is targeted to those health professionals who are concerned with understanding the mechanisms fundamental to the biological action of ionizing radiation or who are involved in the application, measurement, or treatment of the effects of such radiations. The first chapter, on'Bioeffect Dosimetry in Radiation Therapy,'should be of special interest to anyone involved in the treatment of cancer by radiation. It includes a brief review of the history of the manipulation of time-dose parameters in order to improve therapeutic benefit, and an up-to-date analysis of time-dose relationships designed for use in fractionated radiotherapy and brachytherapy. This is followed by two chapters reviewing and comparing national and international protocols for the precise measurement of photon and electron radiations in therapy. These chapters should be invaluable to radiation physicists responsible for treatment machine calibrations.

During the past four decades knowledge about biological effects of ionizing radiations on mammalian cells, normal tissues and tumours has increased enormously and has enabled radiotherapists to obtain a better insight into the advantages and disadvantages of cancer treatments with modified regimens of irradiations and combinations with chemotherapeutic agents. Even for the older scientists and clinicians who have wit­ nessed all these developments and have contributed to the vast amount of information, it is difficult to integrate this knowledge and to apply it in their daily work. For younger workers it is often difficult to select the important main concepts and results from the overwhelming number of publications. It is evident that a book which provides an integrated view of basic and applied radiation oncology can be of great value to students, scientists and, most importantly, to clinicians who can devote only part of their time to the task of understanding the radiobiological background of their application of radiation in cancer treatment. This book'Radiation Oncology'is written by a radiotherapist who has for a long time participated in the integration of basic knowledge and clinical experience. He has selected radiobiological information which is considered important to radiotherapy and in the description and interpretation of normal tissue tolerance and tumour eradication probability, he illustrates how basic knowledge can be applied clinically.

Biologists and radiotherapists present their experimental work and clinical data in the field of radiation injuries of normal tissues and organs. Particular regard is payed to the relevance of biological mechanisms in clinical situations. Principles of radiation damage and combined treatment toxicity in radio-chemotherapy are being explained. The main topics discussed are the importance of microvasculature, time, doseand fractionation and factors modifying clinical radioresponse for early andlate radiation effects. Tissues and organs considered in this volume are mucosa and skin, lung and heart, bladder and muscle, CNS and eye. Special problems of pediatric radiotherapy, TBI, IORT and second malignacies are also mentioned.