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Centigray [cGy]: A Practical Unit in Radiation Therapy

The centigray (cGy) is a unit of absorbed radiation dose equal to 0.01 grays (Gy), or one-hundredth of a gray. It is widely used in clinical settings, especially in radiation therapy, where doses need to be both precise and clinically meaningful. One centigray equals 10 milligrays (mGy), making it a convenient unit for prescribing and documenting treatment doses.

In cancer treatment, therapeutic radiation is typically delivered in fractions, with each session often delivering 180–200 cGy (or 1.8–2.0 Gy) to the target area. Using centigrays allows healthcare professionals to express these fractions in whole numbers, simplifying treatment planning and communication. For example, a full course of radiation therapy might involve a total dose of 6000 cGy over several weeks.

Outside of therapy, the cGy is less commonly used, but it remains important in any context where mid-level radiation doses are applied or studied. Its use bridges the gap between small exposures (measured in mGy or µGy) and large, high-dose applications (measured in Gy), making the centigray a key unit in applied radiation science.

the Attogray (aGy): A Unit of Radiation Dose

The attogray (aGy) is a unit of absorbed radiation dose in the International System of Units (SI), where 1 attogray equals 10⁻¹⁸ grays (Gy). The gray (Gy) is the standard SI unit for absorbed dose and is defined as the absorption of one joule of radiation energy by one kilogram of matter. Therefore, one attogray is an extremely small amount of absorbed radiation, suitable for measuring very low-level exposures, such as background radiation or minor doses in sensitive scientific experiments.

This unit is primarily used in fields like radiation physics, space science, or nuclear medicine research, where extremely precise measurements are necessary. For instance, in nanodosimetry or advanced particle physics, detecting such small doses helps in understanding radiation interactions at the molecular or cellular level. Although not commonly used in everyday radiation monitoring or medical diagnostics, the attogray provides a way to quantify minuscule radiation amounts accurately, which can be crucial in environments where even the smallest exposure matters.

Understanding units like the attogray is essential in advancing safety protocols, developing radiation-resistant materials, and improving our overall understanding of radiation effects on living tissues at the microscopic scale.