Physics of Radiotherapy

From Radiological Sciences

[edit] Course Title:

Physics of Radiotherapy

[edit] Course No.:

RADI 6030

[edit] Instructor:

Wayne Wiatrowski, Ph.D.

[edit] Text & Other Materials:

Classic textbook - Fourth Edition. Covers advanced radiation therapy technologies, including 3D-CRT, stereotactic radiotherapy, HDR, IMRT, IGRT, and proton beam therapy.

• The Physics of Radiation Therapy, 4th Edition, Faiz M. Khan; Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 2009
• Med. Phys. 26, 1847 - 1870 (1999), TG-51 Protocol for Clinical Reference Dosimetry of High-Energy Photon and Electron Beams.
• Med. Phys. 22(2), 209-234, 1995, TG-43, "Dosimetry of Interstitial Brachytherapy Sources"; British Journal on Radiology, Supplement 25, 1996

[edit] Credits:

3

[edit] Semester Offered:

Spring

[edit] Recommended References:

• Med. Phys. 10(6), 741-765, 1983, TG-21, "A Protocol for Absorbed Dose from High Energy Beams"
• Med. Phys. 18(1), 73-109, 1991, TG-25, "Clinical Electron Beam Dosimetry"
• Attix, Introduction to Radiological Physics and Radiation Dosimetry, John Wiley and Sons, 1986
• Hendee, William R. & Geoffrey S. Ibbott, Radiation Therapy Physics, 2nd Edition, Mosby, St. Louis, MO, 1996
• ICRU Report 50, Prescribing, Recording, and Reporting Photon Beam Therapy, International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements, Bethesda, MD, 1993.
• NCRP Report #49, Structural Shielding Design and Evaluation for Medical Use of X-rays and Gamma rays of Energies up to 10MeV, National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, Washington D.C.., 1976
• NCRP Report #51, Radiation Protection Design Guidelines for 0.1-100MeV Particle Accelerator Facilities, National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, Washington D.C., 1977
• Kahn, F., Treatment Planning in Radiation Oncology, Williams & Wilkins, 1998

[edit] Evaluation Scheme:

4 Examinations 60%(15%each); 2 Presentations 12%(6% each); 4 Homework Sections 28%(7% each); Mid-Term Examination; Final Examination.

[edit] Examinations:

• One examination following each section (see course syllabus).
• The final examination is cumulative.
• Each examination constitutes 15% of the final grade.
• Examinations will either be in class or take-home, but will consist of problem solving exercises or essay questions.

[edit] Grading:

• At the first class meeting of each course section, the responsible professor will assign to each student a paper to review or problem to solve for the entire class.
• The student will make a 15-20 minute class presentation to the rest of the students which provides sufficient information for each student to understand the article or the method of problem solution. *Grading will be pass/fail and each presentation will constitute 6% of the final course grade.

[edit] Homework:

Each section will have assigned homework. The homework for each section is due to be turned in on the day of the presentations. Normally homework problems which show adequate effort gain full credit; some work, half credit; and no work, no credit. Each homework section constitutes 7% of the final course grade.

[edit] Course Outline:

Theory, design, and operation of radiation producing equipment used in radiation therapy. Exposure and absorbed dose calculations, patient dosimetry, treatment planning, and use of computers in radiation therapy

[edit] List of Topics by Week

1. Course Introduction/Introduction to Radiotherapy Physics
2. Interactions I , Interactions II
3. Radiation Production and Beam Characteristics
4. Radiation Production and Beam Characteristics III; Presentations/Examination Review
5. Examination; External Beam Calibration I
6. External Beam Calibration II; External Beam Calculation I
7. External Beam Calculation II; External Beam Calculation III
8. External Beam Calculation III; External Beam Calculation IV
9. External Beam Calculation v; External Beam Calculation VI
10. Presentations/ Examination Review; Examination
11. External Beam Modification; Advanced External Beam Topics I
12. Advanced External Beam Topics Ii; Brachytherapy I
13. Brachytherapy II; Brachytherapy III
14. Examination; Radiation Protection
15. Shielding Design I; Shielding Design II
16. Quality Assurance/ Quality Management Programs; Final Examination

[edit] Course Appendix:

1 set of exams, 1 student evaluation (1 set of experiment descriptions, etc.).