Skin Effects of Cobalt 60 Telecurie Therapy

Abstract

Clinical experiments with open- and closed-end applicators, using the 60Co telecurie unit, have been described. These experiments indicate that the radiation delivered to the surface of the skin is very important in producing a skin reaction. Consequently, to minimise skin reactions from supervoltage sources, the “build-up” ratio in the first few mm of tissue should not be destroyed by having closed ends on the applicators. The skin reactions, in general, have been much less with 60Co telecurie therapy than with conventional X radiation, even though higher tumour doses and fewer fields were usually employed.