#26 General Practice of Radiation Oncology Physics in the 21st Century
Author: Almon Shiu & David MellenbergISBN: 9781930524460 ISBN10: 0944838987
Published: 2000 | 368 pp |
Price: $ 75.00
Interactions | January 2001
"This summer school proceedings contains ten chapters dealing with various developments in the current practice and future directions in radiotherapy physics.
"Dose specification, prescription, and quantitative tools for plan evaluation according to the latest ICRU (Report 50 and 62) recommendations are discussed in Chapter 1.
In Chapter 2 is described the 3D treatment
planning process and the use of a 3D planning system using a convolution/superposition photon dose
algorithm.
Chapter 3 deals with advanced forward planning techniques including MLC and compensator
techniques.
Inverse planning, dose optimization, and Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy, and dynamic
collimation is covered in Chapter 4.
In Chapter 5 the new absorbed dose calibration protocol AAPM TG-51
is presented and explained.
Chapter 6 deals extensively with quality assurance both for state of the art
treatment delivery and treatment planning systems.
"The next three chapters are then devoted to brachytherapy, starting with a description of dose prescription
and the TG-43 protocol in Chapter 7.
Chapter 8 is devoted to new implant applications such as
endovascular systems and ultrasound guided prostate implants and Chapter 9 deals with current and new
applications of HDR techniques.
Finally, in Chapter 10 our dosimetry measurement tools are presented.
Various 2D and 3D detectors, including the new gels, and their usefulness in measuring dose for some of
the new techniques such as IMRT are discussed.
"All chapters were very well written including many figures and illustrations. The salient parts of the topics were introduced and important points summarized. A comprehensive list of references was then given for the reader who wishes to pursue the topics in greater detail. It is a very useful text for the practicing medical physicist as well as for new trainees in this field and covers most of the topics a practicing medical physicist in radiation oncology will deal with, from dose prescription, dose measurement, to treatment planning, new techniques, and quality assurance. Portal imaging was briefly discussed in Chapters 6 & 10. Although electronic portal imaging devices (EPID) are still not in wide clinical use because of the inherent poor image quality, much work has been done using them for verification of radiation field placements as well as investigating their potential as exit dosimeters. Hence I would have liked to see an entire chapter devoted to portal imaging and new directions in that field."
-Ellen El-Khatib
BC Cancer Agency
Vancouver British Columbia
Canada