What term describes the total energy absorbed from the beam by a patient?

The correct term that describes the total energy absorbed from the beam by a patient is "integral dose." Integral dose refers to the sum of the energy deposited in a tissue or organ by ionizing radiation, which is crucial in evaluating the potential biological effects of radiation exposure. It is expressed in units such as joules or gray (in the context of absorbed dose), representing the impact of radiation on a patient's tissues.

The concept of integral dose is particularly important in radiology and radiation therapy, as it helps healthcare providers understand the overall radiation exposure a patient receives during diagnostic procedures or treatment, thereby assisting in making informed decisions about patient safety and treatment planning.

In contrast, joules is a unit of measurement for energy but does not specifically indicate absorption within a medical context. Sieverts measure biological effect or dose equivalent and are more about the risk associated with radiation rather than the energy absorbed itself. Roentgen measures exposure to ionizing radiation in air but doesn't represent the absorbed dose in tissue. Therefore, the term integral dose most accurately encapsulates the total energy absorbed from the beam by a patient.