Advances in radiation oncology Srinivasan Vijayakumar, MD, Samuel Hellman, MD  The Lancet  Volume 349, Pages S1-S3 (May 1997) DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(97)90010-6 Copyright © 1997 Elsevier Ltd Terms and Conditions

Figure Dose-effect curves for radiotherapy A=sigmoid relation of dose to tumour-control probability and B=probability of complications with conventional radiotherapy. By limiting normal tissue within radiation fields with conformal radiation therapy, curve B can be pushed to right (C), thus enabling delivery of higher dose and leading to higher cure rate with same complication rate. Vertical line 1=probabilities of cure and critical normal-tissue complications for conventional radiation therapy; vertical line 2=same for conformal radiation therapy. If choice is to use conventional dose and conformal radiation therapy, then toxicity is reduced for same cure rate (arrow, intersection of line 1 and curve C). The Lancet 1997 349, S1-S3DOI: (10.1016/S0140-6736(97)90010-6) Copyright © 1997 Elsevier Ltd Terms and Conditions