Module4

Objective

To develop the skills, knowledge and expertise required of a radiation oncology medical physicist to work competently and independently in the area of external beam radiation therapy.

Competencies to be acquired

4.1 Understand the physical principles and operational characteristics of the range of equipment used in Radiation Oncology for treatment and imaging.
4.2 Prepare specifications and advice for new equipment in association with other professional and technical staff.
4.3 Perform acceptance testing procedures for kV, MV and simulators:
4.4 Design and perform commissioning procedures for kV, MV and simulators:
4.5 Design and perform quality control procedures for kV, MV and simulators:
4.6 Prepare operational procedures for the use of external beam equipment.
4.7 Understand the purpose, advantages and limitations of a range of beam modifiers and treatment techniques in modern radiotherapy.
4.8 Understand the purpose, advantages and limitations of a range of devices and methods used for patient positioning and tumour localisation.

Time commitment

20% - 25% of the entire programme

Reference Syllabus

  • Podgorsak E.B (Ed), Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students, IAEA, Vienna, 2005. Chapters 5, 6, 10, 12, 15.

Core References

  • IAEA TECDOC-1040, Quality Assurance in Radiotherapy, Vienna,1997.
  • Van Dyk J. (Ed). The Modern Technology of Radiation Oncology Vol 1, Medical Physics Publishing, Madison, Wisconsin, 1999.
  • Van Dyk J. (Ed). The Modern Technology of Radiation Oncology Vol 2, Medical Physics Publishing, Madison, Wisconsin, 2005.
  • Williams J R and Thwaites D I (Eds). Radiotherapy Physics in Practice, Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, 2000. Chapters 5, 10, 12, 15.

Supplementary References

  • AAPM Report 46, Comprehensive QA for Radiation Oncology, Med.Phys. 21(4): 581-618, 1994.
  • AAPM Report 47, AAPM Code of Practice for Radiotherapy Accelerators, Med. Phys. 21(7): 1994.
  • AAPM Report 54, Stereotactic Radiosurgery Radiation Therapy Committee Task Group #42; 100 pp. 1995.
  • AAPM Report 72, Basic Applications of Multileaf Collimators Radiation Therapy Committee Task Group #50; 48 pp. 2001.
  • AAPM Report 74, Clinical use of electronic portal imaging (Reprinted from Medical Physics, Vol. 28, Issue 5) Radiation Therapy Committee Task Group No.58; 26 pp. 2001.
  • AAPM Report 83, Quality assurance for computed-tomography simulators and the computed tomography-simulation process: Report of the AAPM Radiation Therapy Committee Task Group No. 66; Med.Phys. 30(10) 2003.
  • AAPM Report 82, Guidance document on delivery, treatment planning, and clinical implementation of IMRT: Report of the IMRT subcommittee of the AAPM radiation therapy committee. Med. Phys. 30(8), 27, 2003.
  • Bomford C K and Kunkler I H. Walter and Miller’s Textbook of Radiotherapy 6th Edition. Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier Science Ltd., Edinburgh. 2002.
  • Coia L R, Schultheiss T E and Hanks G E. A Practical Guide to CTsimulation. Advanced Medical Publishing, 1995.
  • Dendy P P and Heaton B. Physics for Diagnostic Radiology, 2nd edition. Institute of Physics Publishing, 1999.
  • Greene D and Williams P C. Linear Accelerators for Radiation Therapy, 2nd edition. Institute of Physics Publishing, 1997.
  • Hazle J D and Boyer A L. Imaging in Radiation Therapy, AAPM Monograph No. 24, Medical Physics Publishing, 1998.
  • Hu H and Fox S H., The Effect of Helical Pitch and Beam Collimation on the Lesion Contrast and Slice Profile in Helical CT Imaging, Med. Phys. 23(12): 1943-1954, 1996.
  • IAEA Safety Report Series No. 17, Lessons Learned from Accidental Exposures in Radiotherapy, Vienna, 2000.
  • IEC, Medical Electrical Equipment: Particular Requirements for the Safety of Electron Accelerators in the Range 1 Mev to 50 MeV, Document 60601-1-2, IEC, 1998.
  • IEC 60731, Medical Equipment – Coordinates, Movements and Scales, (Consolidated Edition), 2002.
  • IPEM, Physical Aspects of Quality Control in Radiotherapy, IPEM Report 81, IPEM, 1999.
  • Karzmark C J, Nunan C S and Tanabe E. Medical Electron Accelerators, McGraw Hill Inc., 1993.
  • Khan F M. The Physics of Radiation Therapy, 3rd Edition, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2003.
  • Washington C M and Leaver D T. Principles and Practice of Radiation Therapy. St. Louis, Mosby. 2004.
  • Metcalfe P, Kron T and Hoban P. The Physics of Radiotherapy X-rays and Electrons. Medical Physics Publishing, Madison, Wisconsin. 2007.
  • Millar el al, ACPSEM Position Paper: Recommendations for the Safe Use of External Beams and Sealed Sources in Radiation Oncology, Aust. Phys. Eng. Sci. Med., Supplement, 20(3), 1997
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