Radiological technology-radiotherapy

Lecturer:

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

Tutor:

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

Supervisor:

Department of Dosimetry and Application of Ionizing Radiation

Synopsis:

Basic principles of radiation oncology, clinical radiobiology. Instrumentation - historical development and state of art. Physical parameters of photon and electron beams. Radiation treatment planning of external beam radiotherapy. Quality assurance of the instrumentation. Basic principles of brachytherapy - instrumentation, dosimetry. Special radiotherapy techniques and technology. Modern technology of radiotherapy - IMRT and IGRT.

Requirements:

16ZDO1,2, 16DET, 16URF1, 16URF2

Syllabus of lectures:

1. Introduction: Oncology, the current status of radiotherapy, history of radiation therapy, basic terminology, principles of radiobiology, radiotherapy target, ionizing radiation types and energies used in radiotherapy, radiotherapy equipment.

2. Phase interaction of radiation with tissue, damage to cellular structures, repairs, oxygen effect radioresistant radiosensitive phases, dose response, the therapeutic index of radiotherapy side-effect, OAR, tolerance doses.

3. Fractionation, Whither, Elkindův phenomenon, radiobiology model, (TDF, LQ), radiobiology aspects of brachytherapy, electron beams.

4. RT Chain: diagnosis, localization, treatment planning, simulation, radiation, monitoring the patient. The basic components of a linear accelerator and simulator, laser positioning system. Imaging in radiotherapy. GTV, CTV, PTV.

5. Localization, simulation, patient immobilization and setup: orthogonal X-ray images, CT-simulator. Bev, DRR. Immobilization methods. Verifying patient (EPID, DRR).

6. Treatment planning: the basic parameters of photon and electron beams, modifier volume, form fields, blocks, MLC, bolus, compensators. SSD / SAD techniques, static vs. dynamic irradiation.

7. Sense of radiotherapy in oncology, palliative vs curative treatment, tumors, common diagnoses, the basic techniques of radiotherapy, target volume and OAR contouring (ICRU 50, 62).

8. CT simulator: components, sources of ionizing radiation detectors, imaging system. Linear accelerators, radionuclide UNITS: components, RF generators, waveguides, portal monitor units, cooling systems, backup systems.

9. Brachytherapy: used radionuclides afterloading system, applicators, treatment planning, clinical cases, radiation technique, calibration procedures, dosimetry, QA, radiation protection.

10. Special radiotherapy techniques: hyper-and hypo-fractionation, TBI, stereotactic radiotherapy (Leksell gamma knife stereotactic collimators, micro-MLC), IMRT, heavy particle therapy, BNCT, radiotherapy ortvoltážní.

11. Information exchange software in radiotherapy.

12. QA: physics tasks, control parameters, test cases, international audits.

13. Radiation protection: protection of staff and patients, personal dosimetry, in vivo dosimetry, monitoring, legislation.

Syllabus of tutorials:

1. Treatment planning - a practical example: the head and neck, prostate, lung.

2. The prescribed dose, fractionation, dose normalization, ICRU recommendations.

3. Distribution of benefits izodózy, DVH.

4. The outputs of the planning system.

5. Tasks physics, control parameters, test examples.

Study Objective:

Knowledge:

Knowledge about basic principles of radiation oncology and clinical radiobiology. Instrumentation - historical development and state of art.

Abilities:

Using knowledge of the treatment planning of patients. Planning dose fractionation method and obtimalization doses as ICRU recommendations. Treatment planning by external photon beams. Providing quality control of instrumentation.

Study materials:

Key references:

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

Recommended references:

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

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: