What is the effect of increasing the beam energy in electron therapy?

Increasing the beam energy in electron therapy has a direct impact on the depth of dose distribution. As the energy of the electron beam increases, the electrons can penetrate deeper into the tissue before being absorbed. This is because higher energy electrons have more kinetic energy, allowing them to travel further before losing their energy to ionization and scattering events within the tissue. This characteristic is particularly important for targeting tumors located at varying depths, as it enables dosimetrists to ensure that the radiation dose is adequately delivered to the tumor while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.

In contrast, lower energy electron beams are only effective for treating superficial lesions due to their limited penetration depth. Therefore, choosing the appropriate beam energy is crucial for optimizing treatment plans in electron therapy, aiming for maximum dose delivery at the desired depth while reducing dose to the surrounding healthy structures.