title: Radiotherapy in the acute medical setting.
abstract: Radiotherapy is an effective treatment modality and an essential tool in the management of cancer. As the incidence of malignant disease rises it is inevitable that physicians will increasingly encounter patients who have presented acutely and require radiotherapy or with a complication from irradiation. This paper explores the basic principles of radiotherapy tailored to the perspective of the acute medical physician and how to manage acute complications. We also discuss the role of radiotherapy in the acutely ill patient and define the need for radiotherapy pathways to ensure that patients receive treatment in a timely manner.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Oncology, Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, Bebington, UK;
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, Bebington, UK;
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kirkbride
authors.affiliation: Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, Bebington, UK.
authors.forename: Ernie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marshall
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Radiotherapy; acute medicine; adjuvant; emergency admission; palliative; radical