Scientific Calendar Event



Description
When implementing new brachytherapy sources and image-guided techniques into clinical practice, rigorous quality assurance and dosimetry is needed to guarantee the safe use of this nuclear technology and to improve outcomes.  National guidelines for brachytherapy differ widely across the world; therefore, a harmonized approach is needed. High dose rate brachytherapy is an advanced technology that involves complex dose prescription, optimization, recording and reporting.  
 
The target audience include medical physicists involved in clinical brachytherapy service in the radiotherapy department. Participants shall have clinical experience and a basic background in dosimetry and quality control in radiotherapy. A 5-minute presentation is expected from each participant/hospital of their institutional procedures (QA and clinical workflow of a gynaecological patient using High Dose Rate Brachytheapy).
 
Topics:
  • Introduction to the physics of brachytherapy
  • Description of existing brachytherapy sources
  • Source strength determination  
  • Dose calculation formalisms and uncertainties
  • The brachytherapy processes for Level-2 (‘2D’) and Level-3 (‘3D’)
  • Imaging in brachytherapy (X-ray, C-arm, US, CT, MRI)
  • Applicator selection, reconstruction, commissioning in various imaging modalities
  • Brachytherapy dose prescription, optimization, and reporting 
  • Medical physics aspects of quality management, quality assurance and auditing methodologies  in the clinic 
  • Practical hands-on quality assurance and dosimetry using a High-Dose-Rate afterloader in a clinical setting

Speakers:
R. HUDEJ*, Institue of Oncology Ljubljana, Slovenia
E. GRUSZCZYNSKA, The Maria Sklodowska-Curie Institute – Oncology Center, Warshaw, Poland
T. PAULSEN HELEBUST, Oslo University Hospital, Norway
S. SIMIELE, AAPM faculty member, MD Anderson, Houston, Texas, USA
L. TUNTIPUMIAMORN, Mahidol University Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
 
Note: *for the practical demonstrations on the afterloader at the Institue of Oncology Ljubljana


Prerequisites: The workshop is for clinical qualified medical physicists (CQMP as per IAEA publication HHS-25) from United Nations, UNESCO or IAEA Member States who hold a postgraduate-level university degree, preferable in medical physics.
The candidate should have at least 3 years working experience in a hospital in a radiotherapy department and should be involved in brachytherapy.
The process of selection of participants might include a mandatory written examination.
 
Grants: A limited number of grants are available to support the attendance of selected participants, with priority given to participants from developing countries. There is no registration fee.

 
Go to day
  • Monday, 21 November 2022
    • 08:30 - 09:00 Registration and administrative formalities
      REGISTRATION: Upon arrival, Visitors not staying in the ICTP Guest House, are kindly requested to complete registration formalities at the Lower Level of Adriatico Guest House from 8.30 till 09:00.
    • 09:00 - 17:00
      • 09:00 Welcome and Introduction 30'
        Speaker: Luciano BERTOCCHI (ICTP, Italy), Daniel BERGER (IAEA, Austria)
      • 09:30 Individual Participant Presentation 1h0'
      • 10:30 Coffee Break 30'
      • 11:00 Individual Participant Presentation 1h0'
      • 12:00 Lunch 1h30'
      • 13:30 Individual Participant Presentation 30'
      • 14:00 Introduction to the Physics of Brachytherapy 1h0'
        Speaker: Lalida TUNTIPUMIAMORN (Siriraj Hospital Mahidol University, Thailand)
      • 15:00 Coffee Break 30'
      • 15:30 Radiobiology EQD2 concept and practical 1h30'
        Speaker: Lalida TUNTIPUMIAMORN (Siriraj Hospital Mahidol University, Thailand)
        Material: Excel files
    • 17:30 - 19:00 Get-Together drink
  • Tuesday, 22 November 2022
    • 09:30 - 17:00
      Location: Giambiagi Lecture Hall (Adriatico Guest House)
      • 09:30 Source strength determination 1h0'
        Speaker: Samatha SIMIELE (AAPM faculty member, MD Anderson, USA)
      • 10:30 Coffee Break 30'
      • 11:00 Dose calculation formalisms and uncertainties 1h0'
        Speaker: Samatha SIMIELE (AAPM faculty member, MD Anderson, USA)
      • 12:00 Lunch 1h0'
      • 13:00 Imaging in brachytherapy (X-ray, C-arm, CT, MRI, US) 1h0'
        Speaker: Ewelina GRUSZCZYNSKA (The Maria Sklodowska-Curie Institute – Oncology Center, Poland)
      • 14:00 Medical physics aspects of quality management, quality assurance and auditing methodologies in the clinic 1h0'
        Speaker: Lalida TUNTIPUMIAMORN (Siriraj Hospital Mahidol University, Thailand)
      • 15:00 Coffee Break 30'
      • 15:30 Applicator selection, reconstruction, commissioning in various imaging modalities 1h30'
        Speaker: Daniel BERGER (IAEA, Ausria)
  • Wednesday, 23 November 2022
    • 08:00 - 17:00
      • 08:00 Bus to Institute of Oncology Ljubljana 1h30'
      • 09:30 Practical Hands-On (breaks on demand) 2h0'
        Speaker: Robert HUDEJ (Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Slovenia)
      • 12:00 Lunch 1h30'
      • 13:30 Practical Hands-On (breaks on demand) 2h0'
        Speaker: Robert HUDEJ (Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Slovenia)
      • 15:30 Bus back to ICTP 1h30'
  • Thursday, 24 November 2022
    • 09:30 - 17:00
      Location: Giambiagi Lecture Hall (Adriatico Guest House)
      • 09:30 The brachytherapy processes for Level-2 (‘2D’) and Level-3 (‘3D’) 1h0'
        Speaker: Daniel BERGER (IAEA, Austria)
      • 10:30 Coffee Break 30'
      • 11:00 Brachytherapy dose prescription, optimization, and reporting 1h0'
        Speaker: Daniel BERGER (IAEA, Austria)
      • 12:00 Lunch 1h30'
      • 13:30 Group_photo 5'
      • 13:35 Ask the experts - Question and Answer session – 1h25'
        All Faculty
      • 15:00 Coffee Break 30'
      • 15:30 Challenges in Brachytherapy 1h30'
        Participants in groups (3-5)
  • Friday, 25 November 2022
    • 09:00 - 11:00
      Location: Giambiagi Lecture Hall (Adriatico Guest House)
      • 09:00 Brachy Quiz (Exam) 30'
        Participants
      • 09:30 Results of the Quiz 30'
        All Faculty
      • 10:00 Course evaluation and Feedback. 30'
        Speaker: Luciano BERTOCCHI (ICTP, Italy), Daniel BERGER (IAEA, Austria)
      • 10:30 Coffee Break & Closure of the workshop 30'