癌病放射線治療的限制,是給予劑量不能超過正常組織的最大耐量。組織對分次治療,可忍受較大的總放射線劑量,因為組織細胞在兩次照射之間生化活動會修補細胞內非致命的傷害,同時繁殖活躍的細胞,也會因細胞死光而補充。細胞對放射線傷害的修補與補充,亦見於癌病細胞,只是程度不同而已。為了爭取最高的腫瘤控制率,微不足道的合併症以及病人和醫院工作的方便,於是有分次的遠距離照射和連續低劑量率的近接治療。如何融會時間、劑量和次數等治療因素以評估放射線生物效應,是數十年來最富挑戰性的題目。1967年先有Frank Ellis綜合前人的觀察和數據,建立標稱標準劑量的觀念和運用。1972年Orton提出時間、劑量及次數的因數及公式,計算更覺便利,應用的範圍亦更廣,而且在運算上也可和標稱標準劑量換算。本文即在介紹時間、劑量及次數因素的原理和應用的方法,益舉例說明。
The use of the nominal standard dose (NSD) concept in practical teletherapy is simplified by the introduction of time, dose and fractionation (TDF) factors, which are proportional to partial tolerance, but are not dependent upon any specific NSD value . The TDF factors has also been extended to brachytherapy Because fractionation is not necessary involved, TDFs will be known as time-dose factors when applied to brachythenapy. Several examples are given to present the application of TDFs tables, which help to ensure the correct interpretation of the basic NSD concept. Computers, slide-rules or even log tables, are not required for calculation of TDF factors.