This unrivalled and comprehensive volume discusses the general background and various clinical applications of radiation therapy in the treatment of non-malignant diseases. It documents the radiobiological and physical principles of treatment and the rationale underlying the use of radiotherapy for various disorders of the CNS. In so doing, it draws attention to and elucidates the scope for application of radiotherapy beyond the treatment of malignancies. Both the risks and the benefits of such treatment are fully considered. With the assistance of many tables and figures, the extensive data from clinical studies are presented in a well-structured and informative way. Since it offers an interdisciplinary perspective, it will be of interest to radiotherapists and many other practitioners and medical specialists, e.g. orthopedists, surgeons, and ophthalmologists.