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PHY 591: Special Problems: Advanced Radiation Therapy Physics
Course Information
Please note that exact details of the course can vary
Instructors:
Mark Rivard, PhD
Gene Cardarelli, PhD
Ziad Saleh, PhD
Michelle Schwer, MSc
Reshma Munbodh, PhD
Dr Michael Antosh, contact person in the Physics Department
Semester:Spring
Credits: 5
Prerequisites: PHY550 or permission of instructor
Catalog Description: Advanced study under the supervision of a faculty member arranged to suit the individual needs of the student. (Independent Study)
Course Goals & Outcomes:
Upon completion, successful students will be able to: know advanced treatment techniques in radiation oncology; understand radiation delivery equipment; understand treatment planning methods; understand methods for dose calculations; discuss the clinical responsibilities and quality assurance
Course Description
The student will be introduced to the fundamental physics of advanced treatment techniques used in radiation therapy, which include external beam electron, proton, and photon therapy and internal brachytherapy. For these techniques, the basic principles of the techniques such as clinical applications, radiation delivery equipment, treatment planning methods, methods of dose calculations, determination of time of irradiation from dose prescription, dose measurements, and quality assurance will be studied. This knowledge will prepare the student for an introduction to the clinical practice of medical physics applied to complex treatment techniques used in radiation therapy. Also, this should help prepare the student for research in radiation therapy physics.
Topics covered in this course include:
- Electron & Mixed Beam Therapy: Electron Therapy Primer, Intraoperative Electron Therapy, Total Skin Electron Irradiation, Modulated (bolus) and Arc Electron Therapy
- Proton Therapy: Proton Therapy I – Beam Characteristics & Dosimetry, Proton Therapy II – Treatment Planning & Patient Cases
- Computational Methods: External Beam Dose Calculation Algorithms, Brachytherapy Dose Calculation Algorithms, Monte Carlo Methods
- Brachytherapy: High Dose Rate Brachytherapy (Gyn, Interlumen), Accelerated Partial Breast Brachytherapy, Prostate Brachytherapy, Ocular Melanoma Eye Plaques, Electronic Brachytherapy
- Photon (X-ray) Therapy: Stereotactic Irradiation I –Linac, Gamma Knife, Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy, Volumetric Arc Therapy, Management of Fetal Dose, Irradiation of Blood, Bones, etc., Management of Pacemakers & Metallic Implants, Total Body Irradiation
- Image Guided & Gated Radiotherapy: Image Guided Treatment Planning- CT, PET, MRI, U/S; Image Guided Therapy- Planar Imaging, Motion Management in Radiotherapy
Grading will be based on;
Homework, Mid Semester Exam and Final Exam. Please see the course syllabus for more details.
Contact Information: Please see the syllabus for contact information for all instructors.
IND: (1-6 crs.) Advanced study under the supervision of a faculty member arranged to suit the individual needs of the student. (Independent Study) Pre: permission of chairperson. Not to exceed 6 credits.
