Radiotherapy in paediatric practice

Fewer children than adults are treated each year with radiation therapy. The radiotherapist must consider the child's potential for growth, development, reproduction, and duration of life. Tumors resulting from radiation treatment rarely develop sooner than 10 years following treatment, and the risk of radiation-induced tumors increases with age. Radiotherapy is effective against most childhood cancers, but its use is limited because of its possible adverse effects in the long term. Although the dose of radiation is similar for both adults and children, the amount of radiation given to children is distributed in smaller and more frequent portions than the dose given to adults, in order to reduce the potential for long-term radiation-related damage. The differences in body size between adults and children may cause difficulties in administering radiation treatment and must also be taken into consideration. Various aspects of radiation treatment of children are discussed, including methods to prepare a child for radiation therapy, management of vomiting associated with radiation of the abdomen or total body, the role of radiation in treating various types of cancer, and use of radiation for palliative treatment of pain. The radiotherapist must work together with other health professionals involved in the care of the pediatric patient, such as pediatricians, pediatric surgeons, and pediatric pathologists, to be able to provide the most effective treatment of cancer. Radiation treatment of children should be carried out by health professionals who are familiar with standard procedures used in the management of childhood cancer. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)