Very Late Effects of Radiotherapy – Limiting Factor of Current Radiotherapy Techniques

Very late effects of radiotherapy occur within decades after the initial exposure. Their development is induced by low doses of ionizing radiation (from 4 Gy per radiation series) and their clinical manifestations are difficult to distinguish from other independent diseases diagnosed in individuals not formerly treated with radiation. A long time period from the exposure confounds any causal relationships between radiation and adverse events. Still, these side effects not only reduce the patients’ quality of life but also lead to an early morbidity and mortality, hence generating significant costs in health-care and social systems.