
Radiotherapy is a local treatment similar to surgery but can encompass more extensive areas of tumor tissue. Radiation therapy can be either a standalone treatment or part of a multimodal cancer treatment protocol.
Radiation therapy is most effective against tumors that are metabolically and cellularly active. It works by depositing energy into DNA or its close proximity, which causes lethal damage to the cells. In order to reduce harm to surrounding healthy cells, careful planning of radiation treatment is carried out, based on previous CT scans.
Specialized computer programs are used for meticulous planning to direct the majority of radiation energy to the tumor while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissues, although the side effects of radiation therapy cannot be eliminated.
Animals undergoing radiation therapy are required to maintain absolute stillness for a few minutes, which makes anesthesia necessary.
