title: Patient safety in external beam radiation therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  External beam radiation therapy is a highly effective treatment for many types of cancer and other diseases, but incorrect delivery of the high doses necessary for tumor control can cause serious normal tissue complications, and geographic misses of the tumor can cause tumor recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Benefits and risks of the explosive technologic growth of the last three decades will be described, as will efforts to reduce treatment errors and ensure safe effective treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA. yorkee@mskcc.org
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yorke
authors.forename: Daphna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gelblum
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ford
mesh_terms: D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011835:Radiation Protection; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D017751:Safety Management