Clinical Dosimetry

Lecturer:

Josef Novotný (gar.), Josef Novotný (gar.), Martin Steiner (gar.)

Tutor:

Josef Novotný (gar.), Martin Steiner (gar.)

Supervisor:

Department of Dosimetry and Application of Ionizing Radiation

Synopsis:

Specific requirements for radiation beam dosimetry as well as radiation protection aspects will be discussed for clinically used beams. Relative dosimetry methods including instrumentation and in-vivo dosimetry technology and their possibilities and limitations in clinical dosimetry will be analysed. Optimisation of absorbed dose to tumour and to other part of the body will be followed as well as.

Requirements:

16ZDOZ, 16DETE or 16ZDO1, 16ZDO2, 16DET

Syllabus of lectures:

1.Clinical dosimetry subject, relation to other radiation sciences, requirements and uncertainties, quality assurance, role of medical physicists in radiation therapy process.

2.Standardisation in clinical dosimetry, concept of absorbed dose to water measurements for photon and electron beams.

3.Absorbed dose estimation in photon and electron clinical beams, determination of beam energy.

4.Dosimetric instrumentation for relative dose measurements in a water phantom, TAR, TMR, profile OER.

5.Measurements of kV radiation: energy specification, HVL measurements, filtration of the bema, parameters of beams, absorbed dose estimation, relative dose distributions.

6.Simulators and CT: target volume definition for treatment planning procedures, function of simulators, specification of simulator's parameters, role of CT scanners, CT functions, imaging on CT.

7.Brachytherapy: sealed radioactive sources, dosimetry of sealed and closed sources, manual and afterloading, practical aspect of dose evaluation.

8.Radiobiological models in radiotherapy: dependence dose-number of fraction and total dose, linear quadratic model, clinical application.

9.Quality assurance programme: basic concept, standards and recommendations for radiation therapy, QA manual, basic components of QA.

10. QA programme for radiation therapy units: radionuclide machines, linear accelerators, brachytherapy instruments. Acceptance and commissioning tests, stability and log term stability checks.

11.QA programme for simulators and CT units.

12.Radiation protection in radiotherapy: legislation, shielding calculations, acceptance of treatment rooms, monitoring of staff and patients, emergency planning, incidence and accident in radiotherapy.

Syllabus of tutorials:

Study Objective:

Knowledge:

Knowledge about specific requirements for radiation beam dosimetry as well as radiation protection aspects for clinically used beams.

Abilities:

Optimizing and reducing the side benefit of X-ray examinations and applications of radiopharmaceuticals.

Study materials:

Key references:

[1]F.M. Khan, The Physics of Radiation Therapy, 2nd ed. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, MD. 1994

[2]J.R.Williams, D.I. Thwaites, Radiotherapy Physics in Practice.2nd. ed. Oxford Univesity Press, N.Y. 1994

Recommended references:

[3]IAEA Techical Report Series No277: Absorbed Dose Determination in Photon and Electron Beams. An International Code of Practice. 2nd. ed. IAEA Vienna 1997

[4]IAEA Technical Report Series No381: The Use of Plane Parallel Ionization Chambers in High Energy Electron and Photon Beams. An Itarnational Code of Practice for Dosimetry. IAEA 1997

[5]IAEA Technical Report Series No398: Absorbed Dose Determination in External Beam Radiotherapy. An International Code of Practice for Dosimetry Based on Standards of Absorbed Dose to Water., IAEA Vienna 2000.

[6]ČSN ISO 9002: Quality Systems. Model for quality assurance in production and commissioning.(in Czech)

[7]AAPM (AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PHYSICISTS IN MEDICINE): Comprehensive QA for radiation oncology: Report of AAPM Radiation Therapy Committee Task Group No. 40. Med.Phys. 21 (April 1994), 581 - 618.

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: