[The context of radiotherapy within a literature perspective]

The present study is a review of the literature on radiotherapy and was undertaken in order to determine and analyse how the subject is approached by different investigators. The review covers textbooks that focus the evolution of physics on radiotherapy, and the issues of eight journals published over a ten-year period (1982-1992). Three of the journals are Brazilian, one is North American. Four of them are not specific for the area. Six CEPEN catalogues were also consulted. The analysis have shown gaps related to studies that approach the perspectives of patients, their families and the members of the health and nursing team on their daily experience of this treatment.