Why is a wedge device used in radiation oncology?

A wedge device in radiation oncology is utilized primarily to modify the intensity distribution of the treatment beam. By incorporating a wedge into the beam path, it allows for the alteration of the dose delivered to different areas of the treatment field. This is crucial when treating tumors that have irregular shapes or are located in areas where the radiation dose needs to be adjusted to protect surrounding healthy tissues while ensuring an adequate dose is administered to the target tumor.

The shape of the wedge helps to create a gradient in radiation intensity, which can effectively "tilt" the dose distribution, allowing radiation oncologists to achieve better tumor coverage while minimizing exposure to adjacent healthy structures. This is particularly important in achieving optimal treatment outcomes and maintaining safety standards in radiation therapy.