In radiation therapy, what is the lay term used for "radiation necrosis"?

The lay term "radiation necrosis" refers to tissue death that occurs as a direct result of radiation exposure. This condition typically arises when the radiation doses are sufficiently high or when the exposure occurs over prolonged periods, leading to damage of the cells and tissues in the irradiated area. In simpler terms, when tissues die due to radiation, it is commonly referred to as necrosis.

This understanding is vital in radiation therapy, where healthcare providers need to manage and monitor the side effects that can result from treatments aimed at destroying cancer cells. While terms like "radiation burn" and "radiation sickness" refer to other conditions related to radiation exposure, they do not specifically encapsulate the phenomena of tissue death that characterizes radiation necrosis. Hence, tissue death due to radiation exposure aligns perfectly with the definition of radiation necrosis in layman's terms.