Superficial X-rays are low-energy X-rays that do not penetrate very far before they are absorbed. They are produced by X-ray tubes operating at voltages in the 10–100 kV range, and therefore have peak energies in the 10–100 keV range.[1] The Maximar-100 was a widely-adopted superficial radiation therapy unit.
Precise naming and definitions of energy ranges may vary, and X-rays at the lower end of this range may also be known as Grenz rays.[2] They are useful in radiation therapy for the treatment of various benign or malignant skin problems, including skin cancer and severe eczema.[3][4] They have a useful depth of up to 5 mm.[2][5] In some locations, orthovoltage treatment is being replaced by electron therapy or brachytherapy.[6]
As well as teletherapy, X-rays in this energy range (and the low orthovoltage range) are used for imaging patients, to analyse materials and objects in industrial radiography and for crystallography.
↑Hill, Robin; Healy, Brendan; Holloway, Lois; Kuncic, Zdenka; Thwaites, David; Baldock, Clive (21 March 2014). "Advances in kilovoltage x-ray beam dosimetry". Physics in Medicine and Biology59 (6): R183–R231. doi:10.1088/0031-9155/59/6/R183. PMID24584183. Bibcode: 2014PMB....59R.183H.
↑Alikhan, Ali; Maibach, Howard; Lachapelle, Jean-Marie (2013). "Radiotherapy in the Treatment of Hand Eczema". Textbook of Hand Eczema. Berlin: Springer Berlin. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-39546-8_33. ISBN978-3-642-39545-1.