Physics of External Radiotherapy and Brachytherapy

Code:

F/MED4002

Acronym:

F/MED4002

Level:

400

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Physics / Medicine

Instance: 2024/2025 - 1S

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	3	Study plan since academic year 2023/2024	2	-	6	42	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

Knowing the principles of basic and clinical dosimetry of the External Radiotherapy and Brachytherapy. Relate the acquired physical concepts with the dynamics of a clinical service and its specific application at every stage.
The student must be able to identify and quantify a number of specific characteristics of the treatment devices. The combination of imaging techniques used at each stage of a radiotherapy and brachytherapy in the planning as well as in the several treatment techniques. The ability to differentiate the approved quality control for each step and for each technique.

Learning outcomes and competences

Working method

Presencial

Program

The program of this CU is divided into 3 modules:

- Basic dosimetry of External Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy:  types of beams, beam modifiers. Description of the basic components of a linear accelerator: kilovoltage and megavoltage units, and auxiliary systems. Characterization of the radiation beam: photons and electrons. Quality Control in External Radiotherapy. Protocols of determination of absorved dose in reference conditions.

- Clinical Application of External Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy treatment procedure. Imaging for External Radiotherapy. Target volumes and organs at risk contouring. Calculation algorithms based on corrections and models. Clinical dosimetry. Special techniques in External Radiotherapy. Quality control of planning systems and treatments.

- Brachytherapy  

Classification of treatments and knowledge of pathologies. Radiation sources: ideal and real. Dosimetry systems and their calculations. Quality control of high dose rate devices.

Mandatory literature

Schlegel, W., Bortfeld, T., Grosu, A.-L; New Technologies in Radiation Oncology, Springer, 2006
International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements; Prescribing, Recording, and Reporting Intensity-Modulated Photon-Beam Therapy (IMRT) (ICRU Report 83), Oxford University Press, 2010. ISBN: 1742-3422
Pam Cherry, Angela Duxbury; The Physics of Radiation Therapy and equipment,, Wiley-Blackwell, 2009
E. B. Podgorsak et al; Radiation Oncology Physics: a Handbook for Teachers and Students, IAEA, 2005
Peter Metcalte, Thomas Kron, Peter Hoban; The Physics of Radiotherapy X-rays from Linear Accelerators, Medical Physics Publishing, 1997
Faiz M. Khan; Practical Radiotherapy: Physics, Williams & Wilkins, 1994
IAEA; TRS398 - Absorbed Dose Determination in External Beam Radiotherapy: An International Code of Practice for Dosimetry based on Standards of Absorbed Dose to Water,

Teaching methods and learning activities

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	100,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	100,00
Frequência das aulas	42,00
Total:	142,00

Eligibility for exams

The student must have success (>9.5 values) in the evaluation of each module.

Calculation formula of final grade

Final grade = 6x (Grade in Module I) + 6x (Grade in Module II) + 3 Grade practical class report 5x (Grade in Module III)]/20

Classification improvement

For rating improving final examination can be perfomed in the respective period.

Observations

Juri:
Anabela Gregório Dias
Luís Paulo Teixeira Cunha