Course Director

Erik Van Limbergen, Radiation Oncologist, UZ Gasthuisberg, Leuven (BE)

Teachers

Christine Haie-Meder, Radiation Oncologist, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villeuif (FR)
Peter Hoskin, Radiation Oncologist, Mount Vernon Hospital, London (GB)
Didier Peiffert, Radiation Oncologist, Centre A Vautrin, Nancy (FR),
Bradley Pieters, Radiation Oncologist, Academisch Medisch Centrum, Amsterdam, (NL)
Jack Venselaar, Physicist, Dr Verbeeten Instituut, Tilburg (NL)

Local Organiser

 Alfredo Polo, Radiation Oncologist, Ramon y Cajal University Hospital, Madrid (ES)

Course aim

To cover the basis and general principles of brachytherapy: historical notes on evolution of brachytherapy, sources, afterloading systems, imaging for brachytherapy, dosimetry, radiobiology of different dose rates (LDR, HDR, PDR, and permanent implants), radioprotection, organisation of a brachytherapy department.

To discuss different technical & dosimetrical aspects of interstitial, endoluminal and endocavitary brachytherapy.

To discuss the main clinical subjects: gynaecological (cervix, endometrium), head & neck (oral cavity, oropharynx), urology (a.o. prostate seed implants), skin, soft tissue sarcomas, paediatric malignancies, endovascular brachytherapy and applications of braachytherapy or benign diseases.

Target Group

The course is aimed primarily at trainees in radiotherapy, radiotherapists, radiation physicists and technologists willing to update themselves on the latest developments.  This course is also highly recommended as an essential basis for the advanced course on 3D imaged-based brachytherapy for gynaecological malignancies.

Educational programme 

• Sources used in brachytherapy
• Physics and dose calculation
• Clinical radiobiology in brachytherapy: general principles and practical examples
• Radioprotection and afterloaders
• Optimisation of stepping source brachytherapy
• Eye plaque brachytherapy
• Permanent seed and HDR prostate implants
• Radiobiology of permanent implants
• Interstitial brachytherapy
• Place of intracavitary brachytherapy in cervix, endometrium and vaginal cancer
• Place of endoluminal brachytherapy in oesophageal and bronchus carcinoma
• Recommendations for recording and reporting in interstitial, intracavitary and endoluminal brachytherapy
• Practical examples of interstitial, intracavitary, endoluminal brachytherapy for clinicians
• Practical exercises and interactive sessions for physicists