What technological advancement in the 1950s introduced the megavoltage era, allowing for the treatment of internal cancers such as prostate and lung tumors?
Answer
Cobalt-60 teletherapy units
The introduction of Cobalt-60 teletherapy units in the 1950s provided doctors with the ability to utilize gamma rays, which possess significantly higher penetration power than the orthovoltage X-ray equipment used previously. This development defined the start of the megavoltage era, enabling clinicians to reach and treat deep-seated internal cancers, such as those in the prostate, brain, or lungs, that were previously inaccessible without causing severe damage to the surface of the skin.
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