Dosimetry and Radiation Protection

Code:

FIS4042

Acronym:

FIS4042

Level:

400

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Physics

Instance: 2024/2025 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Physics and Astronomy
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Medical Physics

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
M:FM	16	Study plan since academic year 2023/2024	1	-	6	42	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

1. Knowledge of the radiometric, dosimetric, radiation protection and operational quantities of ionizing radiation and their practical use.


2. Calculation using Bragg-Gray theory, using stopping power ratios for dose calculation in large and small detectors and discussion of application limits.


3. Capacity to formulate dosimetric calculations in radiology, radiotherapy and nuclear medicine.


4. Capacity to make basic ionizing radiation shielding calculations, specifically in radiotherapy applications.


5. Knowledge of the radiation protection norms and associated protection systems, and being able to distinguish the functions of the differenti national and international organizations that make them. The European and Portuguese legislation is particularly focused, giving the student the capacity to develop, from a normative point of view, any basic problem that may arise, basing themselves in the existing norms and work on them under the supervision of a medical physics expert.

Learning outcomes and competences

The student should acquire knowledge about the historical evolution of the application of ionizing radiation, since the discovery of X-rays and Radioactivity, as well as their use in the medical context, namely Radiotherapy, Nuclear Medicine and Radiology. The student takes contact with the standards of radiation protection and associated protection systems, knowing how to distinguish the function of the various naionais and international organizations that eleboram. The European and the Portuguese legislation are especially focused, giving the student the ability to quickly investigate and solve from a normative point of view, any basic problem that  may arise, based on the existing standards and work under the supervision of an Medical Physics Expert.

Dosimetry is presented as a natural continuation of the concepts learned in the UC Radiation Physics. The physical concepts are presented through practical examples in the area of medical physics, and give the student a general perspective of dosimetric calculation in the areas of radiotherapy, radiology and nuclear medicine, as well as shielding calculations, which will provide them the necessary basic tools for the independent formulation and subsequent resolution of dosimetric calculations in medical physics.

The historical perspective of ionizing radiation applications gives the student a learning structure in which the current radiation protection concepts appear in an intuitive way, showing the need for the current national and international directives and norms. Given that medical physics conducts itself in the areas of radiotherapy, nuclear medicine and radiology, the main radiation protection methodologies are presented in this framework.

Working method

Presencial

Program

• Dosimetry: revision of radiation physics concepts.


• Radiometric, dosimetic, radiation protection and operational quantities of ionizing radiation.


• Cavity theory. Bragg-Gray theory. Stopping power rations. Fano Theorem.


• Dosimetry and metrology of ionizing radiation. Absorbed dose estimation. Dosimeters.


• Dosimetry in radiology.


• Dosimetry in radiotherapy.


• Introdution to ionizing radiation shielding calculations in radiotherapy.


• Micro and nanodosimetry.


• National and international organizations that regulate the safe use of ionizing radiation.


• Directives and legislation in ionizing radiation.


• Control methodology based on international recommendations.


• Specific aspects of radiation protection in radiotherapy, nuclear medicine and radiology.

Mandatory literature

Dendy P. P.; Physics for diagnostic radiology. ISBN: 0-7503-0591-6
Dowd Steven B.; Practical radiation protection and applied radiobiology. ISBN: 0-7216-7523-9
Cherry Simon R.; Physics in nuclear medicine. ISBN: 0-7216-3341-X
Saha Gopal B.; Physics and radiobiology of nuclear medicine. ISBN: 0-387-95021-4
Alpen Edward L.; Radiation biophysics. ISBN: 0-12-053085-6
Attix Frank Herbert; Introduction to radiological physics and radiation dosimetry. ISBN: 0-471-01146-0
Pedro Andreo, David T. Burns, Alan E. Nahum, Jan Seuntjens, Frank H. Attix; Fundamentals of Ionizing Radiation Dosimetry, Wiley-VCH

Teaching methods and learning activities

Lectures and Exercise solution

Evaluation Type

Evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Trabalho escrito	15,00
Teste	85,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	100,00
Frequência das aulas	42,00
Trabalho escrito	20,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

In accordance with the rules of UP.

Calculation formula of final grade

Dosimetry Component: (70% test + 30% 4 fortnightly works)  worth 50%

Radiological Protection Component: (100% test)  worth 50%


The test to the two components is given on the same day.

Classification improvement

Resource examination in accordance with the rules of the UP.

Observations

Jury:
- Fátima Mota, João Santos, Pedro Teles