Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

rad
Radiation absorbed dose, a measurement for
a dose of ionizing radiation.
radial 1
Pertaining to the radius, the smaller bone
in the forearm. The radial artery is so named
because of its proximity to the radius.
2
Pertaining
to the radius of a circle.
3
Spreading from a cen-
tral point. A radial keratotomy, for instance, is an eye
operation in which incisions are made in the cornea
that resemble the spokes in a wheel.
radial aplasia-thrombocytopenia syndrome
See 
TAR syndrome.
radial artery
A major artery that emerges
through the neck of the radius in the crook of the
elbow and sends out 12 branches to various areas
of the forearm, wrist, and hand.
radiate
To spread out from a central area. For
example, sciatic pain may radiate outward from the
lower back.
radiation 1
Rays of energy. Gamma rays and X-
rays are two types of radiation that are often used in
medicine.
2 
The use of energy waves to diagnose
or treat disease.
radiation, seed
See 
radiation therapy, 
interstitial.
radiation fibrosis
See 
fibrosis, radiation.
radiation menopause
See 
menopause,
induced.
radiation oncologist
A physician whose spe-
cialty is the use of radiation therapy as a treatment
for cancer.
radiation oncology
The medical specialty that is
involved in the use of radiation (X-rays, gamma
rays, or electrons) to treat cancer.
radiation pneumonitis
See 
pneumonitis,
radiation.
radiation therapy
The use of high-energy rays
to damage cancer cells, stopping them from grow-
ing and dividing. Like surgery, radiation therapy is a
local treatment that affects cancer cells only in the
treated area. Radiation can come from a machine
(external radiation) or from a small container of
radioactive material implanted directly into or near
a tumor (internal radiation). External radiation
therapy is usually given on an outpatient basis in a
hospital or clinic. Patients are not radioactive dur-
ing or after external radiation therapy. For internal
radiation therapy, the patient stays in the hospital for
a few days. The implant may be temporary or per-
manent. After an implant is removed, there is no
radioactivity in the body. The amount of radiation in
a permanent implant goes down to a safe level
before the patient leaves the hospital. Side effects of
radiation therapy depend on the treatment dose and
the part of the body treated. The most common side
effects of radiation are fatigue, skin reactions (such
as a rash or redness) in the treated area, and loss of
appetite. Radiation therapy can cause inflammation
of tissues and organs in and around the body site
that is radiated. Radiation therapy can also cause a
decrease in the number of white blood cells.
Although the side effects of radiation therapy can be
unpleasant, they can usually be treated or con-
trolled. Furthermore, in most cases, they are not
permanent.
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