The inverse square law: A basic principle in brachytherapy

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to remind the importance of the inverse square law in radiotherapy and especially in brachytherapy. Indeed, beyond the impact in radiation therapy with high energy beam, there is the use of radionuclides and low energy photons with short FSD where it is still more important. Comparisons between Iridium Brachytherapy and low energy X-rays brachytherapy show equivalent dose distributions in the first few centimeters. If the inverse square law is not the only element influencing the dose distributions calculations, it must not be forgotten. And it is playing a major role in brachytherapy with short FSD (<6cm).

Keywords: Brachytherapy; Curiethérapie; DSP; FSD; Inverse square law; Loi de l’inverse carré; Low energies X-rays; Rayons X de basse énergie.