Singh P, Singh MK, Mishra A. Journey through technological advancements in radiation therapy. World J Radiol 2026; 18(5): 118851 [DOI: 10.4329/wjr.v18.i5.118851]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Atul Mishra, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences, Saifai, Etawah 206130, Uttar Pradesh, India. meetatulmishra@gmail.com
Research Domain of This Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Article-Type of This Article
Minireviews
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Radiol. May 28, 2026; 18(5): 118851 Published online May 28, 2026. doi: 10.4329/wjr.v18.i5.118851
Journey through technological advancements in radiation therapy
Pratibha Singh, Manoj Kumar Singh, Atul Mishra
Pratibha Singh, Manoj Kumar Singh, Department of Physics, Institute of Applied Sciences and Humanities, GLA University, Mathura 281406, Uttar Pradesh, India
Pratibha Singh, Department of Radiation Oncology, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Jaipur 302022, Rajasthan, India
Atul Mishra, Department of Radiation Oncology, Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences, Etawah 206130, Uttar Pradesh, India
Author contributions: Singh P conceptualized the review, performed the literature search, extracted and analyzed the data, and drafted the manuscript; Mishra A contributed to critical revisions and editorial improvements; Singh MK reviewed the manuscript and approved the final manuscript; all authors approved the final manuscript.
AI contribution statement: During the preparation of this manuscript, the author(s) used ChatGPT (OpenAI) to improve language clarity and readability. After using this tool, the author(s) reviewed and edited the content as needed and took full responsibility for the content of the publication.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Corresponding author: Atul Mishra, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences, Saifai, Etawah 206130, Uttar Pradesh, India. meetatulmishra@gmail.com
Received: January 13, 2026 Revised: February 12, 2026 Accepted: March 16, 2026 Published online: May 28, 2026 Processing time: 134 Days and 20.7 Hours
Abstract
Radiation therapy (RT) has advanced substantially since the introduction of the first medical linear accelerator, progressing through successive generations of technological innovation that have improved treatment precision, efficiency, and patient safety. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the evolution of RT technologies-from early linear accelerators to contemporary clinical systems-and examines ongoing research shaping the future of radiotherapy. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, covering peer-reviewed publications from the era of the first linear accelerator to the present. Studies addressing historical milestones, technological developments, clinical implementation, and emerging research directions in RT were included. The literature demonstrates continuous advancement from early accelerator models to modern high-precision platforms integrating image guidance, adaptive radiotherapy, and motion management. Recent developments include automation, artificial intelligence–driven workflows, magnetic resonance-guided radiotherapy, and biologically informed modeling to enable personalized treatment. Ongoing investigations focus on real-time tumor tracking, radiobiology-guided planning, artificial intelligence-based clinical decision support, and next-generation delivery systems. From its origins to today’s state-of-the-art systems, RT has undergone transformative growth. Sustained research and rigorous clinical validation remain essential to effectively integrate emerging innovations and enhance patient outcomes.
Core Tip: This review outlines the advancement of medical accelerators over time, showing how radiation therapy (RT) has evolved from early treatment machines to modern clinical systems. It focuses on the gradual improvement in treatment accuracy, reliability, and clinical usability. The review highlights how each generation of medical accelerators contributed to better patient care by enabling more precise dose delivery, improved treatment consistency, and safer clinical practice. By presenting this chronological progression in a clear and accessible manner, the article helps readers understand how long-term technological development in medical accelerators has shaped present-day RT and continues to influence ongoing research and future directions.
