Linear Accelerators: The Future of Cancer Treatment

Medical linear accelerators come in two main varieties – electron linear accelerators and photon (X-ray) linear accelerators. Electron linear accelerators directly aim high-energy electron beams at the tumor. These electrons deposit most of their energy in the first few centimeters when passing through tissue and are suitable for treating superficial or shallow tumors. Photon linear accelerators operate by converting the kinetic energy of the accelerated electrons into high-energy X-ray photons which have greater penetration power through tissue and are used to treat deeper-seated tumors. Modern linacs can be switched between electron and photon modes to enable treatment of different cancers.

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