Radiation Therapy Board Practice Exam

In the context of cervical cancer treatment, the expected total dose to point A is critical for achieving effective treatment outcomes. Point A is typically defined as a point in the pelvis that is important for the targeted delivery of radiation, particularly in brachytherapy for cervical cancer.

When combining external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) with brachytherapy, the goal is to maximize the dose at point A while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissues.

For cervical cancer, using a combination of EBRT and high-dose-rate brachytherapy, the expected total dose to point A usually comes to around 85 to 100 Gy. However, when rounding for practical purposes in treatment planning, the recommended total dose is generally stated as 90 Gy. This dose incorporates both the EBRT component and the additional dose delivered by brachytherapy, which is aimed directly at the tumor site.

Thus, when assessing the expected total dose at point A, 90 Gy represents the effective cumulative dose that ensures the tumor is adequately treated while considering safety and the radiation tolerance of adjacent organs.

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