IMRT

OED for dose inhomogeneity

• Any dose distribution in an organ is equivalent and corresponds to the same OED if it causes the same radiation-induced cancer incidence. • For low doses, the OED is simply the average organ dose, because the dose–response relationship for cancer induction is in these cases a linear function of the dose with good precision. • However, for high doses, it is different from the average dose, because the cell sterilization effects at high doses must also be considered.

Schneider et al, 2005