Scientific Calendar Event



Description
Modern radiotherapy has substantially increased the use of small radiation fields like those used in various forms of SRT, SBRT, SRS and IMRT. These treatments are not only performed with specialized, dedicated machines, but also with conventional, non-dedicated accelerators equipped with high resolution multi-leaf collimators.

In radiotherapy, accurate doses are essential. Therefore, a key requirement in radiotherapy is consistent reference dosimetry and consistent procedures within a country. For conventional radiotherapy this has been achieved by internationally adopted codes of practice. Howewer the standard codes of practice are based on the use of a 10 cm x 10 cm reference field that may not be achievable using some modern specialized machines.

A joint working group between the IAEA and AAPM has written a new small field code of practice. The aim of this course is to teach participants how to implement the new code of practice in the clinic.

PARTICIPATION:

This workshop is for clinically qualified medical physicists from United Nations, UNESCO or IAEA member countries who should hold a university degree preferably in medical physics. The candidate should also have at least 3 years working experience in a hospital and must participate in small field clinical techniques. Participants should have an understanding of IAEA TRS-398, ‘Absorbed dose determination in external beam radiotherapy’.

The workshop is an opportunity for medical physicists from Member States to get first-hand information on the dosimetry of small fields in radiotherapy. It will be beneficial to clinical medical physicists working in radiotherapy modalities using small fields such as Stereotactic Radiotherapy (SRT), Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) and Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT). TOPICS: Physics and challenges of small field megavolt photon beams; description of the new IAEA/AAPM code of practice for the dosimetry of static small photon fields; discussion of small field detectors; absorbed dose to water standards for small fields; machine-specific reference dosimetry; output factors: definition, measurement and correction; and relative dose measurements in small fields.

TOPICS:
 
  1. Physics and challenges of small field megavolt photon beams
  2. Description of the new IAEA/AAPM code of practice for the dosimetry of static small photon fields
  3. Discussion of small field detectors
  4. Absorbed dose to water standards for small fields
  5. Machine-specific reference dosimetry
  6. Output factors: definition, measurement and correction; and relative dose measurements in small fields
DEADLINE:

12 January 2018
 
Go to day
  • Thursday, 12 April 2018
    • 08:00 - 20:30 Day 1: Thursday, 12 April
      • 09:00 Welcome 15'
        Speaker: R. Padovani (ICTP)
      • 09:15 Course Test 30'
      • 09:45 Determination of absorbed dose to water in MV photon beams (TRS-398) 45'
        Speaker: K. Christaki (IAEA)
      • 10:30 Coffee Break 30'
      • 11:00 Introduction: Why a CoP for small field dosimetry? 1h0'
        Speaker: K. Christaki
      • 12:00 Lunch Break 1h0'
      • 13:00 Physics of small MV photon beams 1h0'
        Speaker: H. Palmans (National Physics Laboratory, UK)
      • 14:00 Introduction to the new IAEA/AAPM code of practice for dosimetry of static small photon fields 1h0'
        Speaker: K. Christaki
      • 15:00 Coffee Break 30'
      • 15:30 Small field Detectors 1h0'
        Speaker: H. Palmans
      • 16:30 Overview of existing and emerging small field technologies 1h0'
        Speaker: S. Huq (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, USA)
      • 18:30 Buffet Dinner 2h0'
        All participants are invited to the dinner in the Cafeteria of the Adriatico Guesthouse
  • Friday, 13 April 2018
    • 08:00 - 17:30 Day 2: Friday, 13 April
      • 08:20 Visit to Finance Office 1h10'
        All those receiving financial support must visit the Finance Office in the Fermi Building to collect their per-diem. A shuttle will run from the Guesthouse from 8:20 to 9:20
      • 09:30 Absorbed dose to water standards for small fields 1h0'
        Speaker: H. Palmans
      • 10:30 Coffee Break 30'
      • 11:00 Output factors. Definition, measurement and corrections 1h0'
        Speaker: H. Palmans
      • 12:00 Lunch Break 1h0'
      • 13:00 Relative dose measurement: profiles, penumbra and depth functions 1h0'
        Speaker: S. Huq
      • 14:00 Estimation of uncertainties in TRS-483 1h0'
        Speaker: H. Palmans
      • 15:00 Coffee Break 30'
      • 15:30 Machine acceptance and quality assurance 1h0'
        Speaker: S. Huq
      • 16:30 Introduction to radiotherapy department and safety talk 1h0'
        Speaker: M. De Denaro (Trieste Hospital)
  • Saturday, 14 April 2018
    • 08:00 - 17:00 Day 3: Saturday, 14 April
      Hospital Practicals
  • Sunday, 15 April 2018
    • 08:00 - 17:00 Day 4: Sunday, 15 April
      Hospital Practicals
  • Monday, 16 April 2018
    • 08:00 - 15:00 Day 5: Monday, 16 April
      • 09:30 Group discussion and comparison of experimental results. Presentation by each group 1h0'
      • 10:30 Coffee Break 30'
      • 11:00 Course Test and discussion on answers 1h0'
      • 12:00 Lunch Break 1h0'
      • 13:00 Discussion of the course 1h0'
      • 14:00 Diplomas and closing ceremony 1h0'