From 2D to 3D RADIOTHERAPY
Cairo, Egypt, February 28 - March 4, 2010

Course Directors

Michael Brada, Clinical Oncologist, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust , London (GB)
Ben Mijnheer, Physicist, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam (NL)

Teachers

Edward Gershkevitsh, Physicist, North Estonia Regional Hospital, Tallin (EE)
Morten Høyer, Radiation Oncologist, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus (DK)
Philippe Maingon, Radiation Oncologist, Centre Georges-François Leclerc, Dijon (FR)
Helen McNair, Technologist, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London (GB)
Alessio Morganti, Radiation Oncologist, Catholic University, Campobasso (IT)
Stan Vatnitsky, Physicist, Consultant, EBG MedAustron GmbH (AT)
Thomas Wiegel, Radiation Oncologist, University Hospital, Ulm (DE)

Course aim

• to provide an overview of the developments in technical and clinical aspects of external beam
  radiotherapy
• to focus on imaging for tumour extent & determination of tumour margins
• to give the foundation of treatment planning and verification of 3D RT techniques
• to explore novel RT techniques including intensity-modulated (IMRT), image-guided  (IGRT), stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) and particle therapy
• to discuss implemention of modern RT techniques in a clinical department
• to examine the value of modern RT technology using the criteria of evidence based medicine

Target Group

The course is meant for trainees in radiation oncology and radiotherapy physics with at least 2 years’ experience. However any senior who would like to refresh part of his/her knowledge would benefit from this course. RTTs are also welcome.

Educational programme 

• Key role of radiation therapy in malignant diseases, control, survival and palliative benefit
• Current evolution from 2D to 3D radiation therapy
• Staging of disease – examples: lung, breast, head & neck
• Tumour delineation: ICRU concepts
• Defining the set-up margin: patient immobilisation and tumour motion, measuring geometric uncertainties
• Examples of tumour delineation using CT & MRI: gastro-intestinal, prostate, head & neck, breast, lung and brain
• Technical aspects of imaging for RT planning
• Conformal RT planning: dose-volume histograms, plan evaluation
• Intensity-modulated RT treatment planning: optimisation, constraints
• Clinical application of complex techniques: breast, prostate, head & neck, lung
• Planning case presentations
• QA of planning system and data transfer
• Verification and treatment delivery
• Principles of dose calculation algorithms
• Stereotactic radiotherapy & radiosurgery: brain, extracranial
• Image-guided radiotherapy, tomotherapy, VMAT
• Protons and other particle therapies
• Principles of decision making, cinical needs, setting priorities: simulators, scanning, planning systems, networking, linacs, add ons
• Training in a department: infrastructure, staffing, maintenance, equipment, quality assurance
• Principles of evidence-based medicine: breast, head & neck, lung and mediastinum, gastrointestinal, GU, CNS and paediatrics, palliative RT