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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.

Dekagray [daGy]: A High-Dose Radiation Unit

The dekagray (daGy) is a unit of absorbed radiation dose equal to 10 grays (Gy). Since 1 gray represents the absorption of 1 joule of radiation energy per kilogram of matter, a dekagray corresponds to 10 joules per kilogram, making it a very large dose of ionizing radiation. This level of exposure is far beyond typical diagnostic or environmental levels and is usually relevant only in specific high-dose applications.

The dekagray is most commonly used in radiation biology experiments, radiation sterilization of medical equipment, or industrial applications, such as food irradiation or materials testing. In radiation therapy, especially for cancer treatment, the total dose delivered over several weeks often reaches 60–70 Gy, but this is administered in daily fractions of around 1.8–2.0 Gy. Therefore, even in clinical settings, doses are typically expressed in centigray (cGy) or gray (Gy) for precision and clarity.

Due to its large size, the dekagray is rarely used in clinical documentation but remains a valid SI-derived unit for situations involving very high radiation levels. It serves as a useful unit in specialized fields where substantial energy deposition in materials or tissues needs to be quantified.