This course will consist of four sub-sections including 1) Fundamentals of the interactions of radiation and matter; 2) The concept of dose; 3) treatment planning; and 4) Hands on treatment planning
501.1 Fundamentals of the Interactions of Radiation with Matter: This course reviews of the basics of atomic and nuclear physics. Matter composition and law governing the interaction of radiation with matters, including energy to matter or waves equivalences, will be explained in very practical way and with quasi-exclusive use of visuals. Emphasis will be put on practical understanding of how radiations interact with matter. Basics of decay theories including Bateman equations will be explained. Particle interactions as well as beam attenuation including the Bert Lambert law will be described. The concept of KERMA and dose, energy degradation down to chemical reactions will be explained. Potential clinical and research applications will be reviewed.
501.2 The Concept of Dose – Theory, detectors, and applications: This chapter will review the quantification of energy deposition in matter, including cavity theories (Bragg & Gray, Attix and Burlin). The concepts of ionization, exposure, dose, and KERMA will be reviewed. Absolute and relative dosimeter. Chemistry under radiation and the Fricke dosimeter. Film dosimetry and nuclear track detectors. The simplifications that are commonly used will be explored. Innovative and future approaches of measuring absorbed dose (scintillation, calorimetry…) will be described.
501.3 Treatment planning and dose distribution optimization – Treatment Planning Systems (TPS) and calculation techniques to predict and estimate dose distributions will be presented. Computer algorithms designed to model dose deposition ranging from look-up tables with simple correction factors to scatter correction-based techniques, pencil beam, pencil kernel and convolution algorithms, to full Monte Carlo modeling of the radiation interactions will be reviewed. Classical dosimetry metrics including equivalent field size, inverse square law, CF, SF, RDF, PSF, TAR, SAR, TPR, TMR, Mayneord factor will be explained. The role of forward and inverse plan optimization will be examined, and the evolution of intensity modulation up to VMAT in modern radiation treatment introduced. Dose-volume histograms, beam weighting, dose normalization, radiotherapy prescription, and MU calculation models will be explained.
501.4 Hands on treatment planning – Basic workflow for treatment planning. Organ contouring and ICRU nomenclature, use of guidelines and peer review evaluation. Example of 2D planning, with pair or parallel-opposed beam with wedges, 3D planning, 3D-CRT, IMRT and VMAT. Electron dosimetry. MU calculation and Medical Physics QA.