AHA Coding Clinic® for HCPCS - 2003 Issue 1

Radiation therapy delivery

Radiation therapy is one of several primary resources utilized to eliminate or shrink cancerous tumors. This therapy employs the use of high-energy penetrating radiation (x-rays, gamma rays, proton rays, neutron rays) that kills cancer cells by damaging their DNA and thus blocking their ability to divide and proliferate. The purpose of radiation therapy is to kill as many cancer cells as possible, while doing as little damage as possible to healthy tissue, and when cures are not possible, alleviate pain by reducing the size of the tumor(s). Radiation therapy is also known as radiotherapy, radiation treatment, x-ray therapy, cobalt...

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