Visual sensations during megavoltage radiotherapy to the orbit attributable to Cherenkov radiation

During megavoltage photon and electron beam radiotherapy treatment involving the eye, patients commonly report visual sensations; “nerve stimulation” is the conventional explanation. We propose that the phenomenon can be attributed to Cherenkov radiation inside the eye. The threshold electron energy...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Medical physics (Lancaster) 2008-01, Vol.35 (1), p.77-80
Main Authors: Newman, Francis, Asadi-Zeydabadi, Masoud, Durairaj, Vikram D., Ding, Meisong, Stuhr, Kelly, Kavanagh, Brian
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
biological effects of ionising particles
BREMSSTRAHLUNG
CHERENKOV RADIATION
electron beam effects
ELECTRON BEAMS
Energy transfer
eye
FLUORESCENCE
GENETIC EFFECTS
Humans
Light
Medical imaging
Models, Biological
Neoplasms - radiotherapy
neurophysiology
Neuroscience
Orbit - radiation effects
PARTICLES
Photons
Physiology of eye
optic‐nerve structure and function
radiation therapy
Radiation treatment
RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
RADIOTHERAPY
Radiotherapy, High-Energy - adverse effects
Refractive index
RETINA
STIMULATION
Therapeutic applications, including brachytherapy
Visible spectra
Vision, Ocular - physiology
Vision, Ocular - radiation effects
visual sensations
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Summary:During megavoltage photon and electron beam radiotherapy treatment involving the eye, patients commonly report visual sensations; “nerve stimulation” is the conventional explanation. We propose that the phenomenon can be attributed to Cherenkov radiation inside the eye. The threshold electron energy for Cherenkov radiation in water is 260 keV . The human retina is able to perceive approximately 5–14 visible photons in 0.001 s . A single 500 keV electron traversing 1 mm of water will induce nearly 15 Cherenkov visible range photons. We propose that a portal image involving the eye will produce sufficient Cherenkov radiation to be detected by the retina.
ISSN:0094-2405
2473-4209
DOI:10.1118/1.2815358