Question:medium
Which is the treatment of choice for irradiation in chordoma?
Which is the treatment of choice for irradiation in chordoma?
Show Hint
Think Bragg peak - a beam that stops after hitting the deep target.
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
- Protons
- Electrons
- Gamma radiation
- 3D-CRT
Show Solution
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Frame the problem by the two demands of chordoma radiotherapy - it is radioresistant (needs a very high dose) and it abuts the brainstem or sacral nerves (needs steep dose fall-off). The ideal beam delivers a high target dose with a sharp distal edge.
Step 2: Among the choices, only charged particles offer the $Bragg$ peak. Protons release their maximum energy at a tunable depth and effectively stop afterward, so tissue beyond the tumour receives almost no dose.
Step 3: Contrast the distractors: electrons are limited to shallow targets, while gamma rays and 3D-CRT (photon-based) carry both entrance and exit dose that would over-irradiate the cord and brainstem when pushing to the high doses chordoma needs.
Step 4: Therefore high-precision particle therapy, classically proton beam, is the radiation treatment of choice for chordoma.
\[\boxed{\text{Protons}}\]
Step 2: Among the choices, only charged particles offer the $Bragg$ peak. Protons release their maximum energy at a tunable depth and effectively stop afterward, so tissue beyond the tumour receives almost no dose.
Step 3: Contrast the distractors: electrons are limited to shallow targets, while gamma rays and 3D-CRT (photon-based) carry both entrance and exit dose that would over-irradiate the cord and brainstem when pushing to the high doses chordoma needs.
Step 4: Therefore high-precision particle therapy, classically proton beam, is the radiation treatment of choice for chordoma.
\[\boxed{\text{Protons}}\]
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