Medical Application of Ionizing Radiation

Lecturer:

Leoš Novák (gar.)

Tutor:

Leoš Novák (gar.)

Supervisor:

Department of Dosimetry and Application of Ionizing Radiation

Synopsis:

Overview of medical application of ionizing radiation: X-ray diagnostics, computed tomography, image acquisition and processing, nuclear medicine - radionuclides, radiopharmaceutics, in vivo vs. in vitro investigations, imaging methods, radiation detectors in NM, gammacamera, tomographical imaging in NM - SPECT, PET, radiation protection in NM, radiation oncology - basic terminology, radiation treatment planning, radiological equipment, quality control, brachyradiotherapy, special radiotherapy methods - IMRT, stereotactic irradiation, BNCT. Radiation protection in health care - relevant quantities, methods of their determination, patient vs. staff, legislation.

Requirements:

16ZDOZ, 16DETE, 16JRF1,16JRF2

Syllabus of lectures:

1. Introduction, history, classification, radiation sources and their physical properties, contrast material, detectors.

2. X-RAY DIAGNOSTICS. Bremsstrahlung sources, technical performance, filtration, half value layer, effective energy, energy spectra, X-ray tube parameters, quality control.

3. COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY. Image reconstruction methods, filtered backprojection, data acquisition, Radon tranform, sinogram, Fourier transform, beam-detector geometry, helical CT.

4. IMAGE ACQUISITION AND PROCESSING. Analogue image, film, radiography, fluoroscopy, image digitization, image formats, DSA, image analysis, image storage, imaging methods.

5. NUCLEAR MEDICINE. Radionuclide and radiopharmaceutical production, generators, halftime - physicsl, biological, effective, radionuclide purity, measurements of activity, in vivo vs. in vitro measurements, detectors in NM.

6. SCINTIGRAPHY, PLANAR IMAGING. Scintilation (gamma-) camera, principles, quality assurance.

7. TOMOGRAPHICAL IMAGING IN NM. SPECT, image acquisition and reconstruction, PET - principles, radionuclides, radiopharmacs, spatial resolution, clinical applications.

8. RADIATION ONCOLOGY. History, aims of radiotherapy, target volumes, critical organs, simulator.

9. RADIATION TREATMENT PLANNING. Treatment planning system, field modifiers - (danymic) wedges, blocks, MLC, beam weighting, dose distribution and methods of its verification.

10. QUALITY CONTROL. Clinical dosimetry, absolute dosimetry, phantom measurements, TMR, OAR, OF, WF, BF, in vivo dosimetry, tests periodicity, legislation.

11. SPECIAL RADIATION THERAPY. IMRT - intensity modulated radiotherapy, inverse planning, stereotactic irradiation, Leksell gamma knife, hadron therapy.

12. RADIATION PROTECTION IN HEALH CARE. Relevant quantities, methods of their determination, legislation.

Syllabus of tutorials:

1. Measurement of activity in vivo, in vitro measurements, the detectors in nuclear medicine.

2. Suitable radionuclides, radiopharmaceuticals, tomographic spatial resolution, clinical applications.

3. The target volume, critical body simulator.

4. Planning system, basic principles, input-output plan, the spatial distribution of benefits and its verification.

5. Clinical dosimetry, absolute dose measurements, phantom measurements.

6. Neutron capture therapy, clinical applications.

7. Calculations of benefits patients, radiopharmaceutical dosimetry - the method of calculating benefits.

Study Objective:

Knowledge:

A comprehensive overview of application of ionizing radiation in medicine, X-ray diagnostics, computed tomography - CT, PET, SPECT, NM.

Abilities:

Orientation in these methods and their application in specific cases.

Study materials:

Key references:

[1]Jacob Van Dyk, The Modern Technology of Radiation Oncology: A Compendium for Medical Physicists and Radiation Oncologists, 1999

[2]Jerrold T. Bushberg, et al., The Essential Physics of Medical Imaging (2nd Edition) 2001

[3]Faiz M. Khan, The Physics of Radiation Therapy , 1994

Recommended references:

[4]James A. Sorenson, Michael E. Phelps, Physics in Nuclear Medicine, 2002

Note:

Time-table for winter semester 2011/2012:

Time-table is not available yet

Time-table for summer semester 2011/2012:

Time-table is not available yet

The course is a part of the following study plans: