External Beam Radiation

What is Total Body Irradiation?

Total Body Irradiation (TBI) historically known as "spray irradiation", is a term which refers to treatment of the whole body with radiation.

When is TBI indicated?

TBI is used as part of the preparation before bone marrow transplant for leukemias, lymphomas, myelomas and other blood diseases such as aplastic anemias. TBI is given to prevent rejection of the marrow cells from the donor, after bone marrow transplant (BMT) and to minimize or eradicate cancer cells that may have survived chemotherapy.

What are the results from TBI given before BMT?

In 1984, Chitti R. Moorthy developed a new technique of TBI at our center. The 5 year actuarial survival rates of 23% for leukemias, 47% for lymphomas and 49% for multiple myelomas (49%) from our study are similar to the results nationally. (C. Moorthy, T. Ahmed, Lynn Shih et. al.)

  
Total Body Irradiaton