This well-received book, now in its fifth edition, is unique in providing a detailed examination of the technological basis of radiation therapy. Another unique feature is that the chapters are jointly written by North American and European authors. This considerably broadens the book's contents and increases its applicability in daily practice throughout the world. The book is divided into two sections. The first section covers basic concepts in treatment planning and explains the various approaches to radiation therapy, such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy, tomotherapy,...

In the last two decades, there has been a major increase in the actual numbers of women diagnosed with breast cancer (from 65000 new cases 20 years ago in the United States to 183000 in 1993). Concomitant with this has been a shift toward making the diagnosis earlier and toward diagnosing an earlier stage ofthe disease (more than 70% of diagnoses were of advanced-stage disease two decades ago, whereas more than 70% of diagnoses are now earlier-stage disease in 1992). These changes are clearly related to the woman's greater sensitivity to abnormalities in the breast and her seeking medical...