Which type of radiation is most commonly utilized in radiation therapy?

X-rays are the most commonly utilized type of radiation in radiation therapy due to their ability to penetrate tissues and target tumors effectively. X-rays have the right balance of energy; they are not so high in energy that they cause excessive damage to surrounding healthy tissues, nor are they too low to effectively target cancer cells. They can be precisely directed to minimize damage to nearby healthy cells while maximizing the dose delivered to the tumor.

In radiation therapy, the goal is to destroy cancerous cells while preserving as much surrounding healthy tissue as possible. X-rays, produced by linear accelerators or other devices, allow for targeted treatment and can be adjusted in frequency and intensity to optimize the therapeutic effect. This versatility and effectiveness make X-rays the standard choice for most radiation therapy applications, including external beam therapy and certain brachytherapy techniques.

Other types of radiation, like neutrons, alpha particles, and beta particles, are also used in specific scenarios, but they are less common overall. For example, neutrons are typically used in specialized treatments due to their high linear energy transfer, which can be effective in certain tumors but is less manageable for general use. Alpha particles and beta particles are also limited in their applications due to their inability to penetrate tissues deeply and their potential to cause