Brachytherapy has become the modality of choice for several cancer localizations, minimizing the possibility of unacceptable risks for healthy tissues and providing a more cost-effective and convenient treatment for patients. Written by leading experts in the physics, development, and implementation of brachytherapy, The Physics of Modern Brachytherapy for Oncology discusses the subject in detail, covering its definition, the basic physics of radiation interaction with matter, radionuclides, sources and source production, calibration and dosimetry protocols as well as experimental dosimetry methods appropriate for practical use.

Logically organized, the book begins with basic information, including quantities and units, followed by fundamental atomic and nuclear physics. It also provides the historical background of brachytherapy physics. The next several chapters discuss the radionuclides used in brachytherapy, reflecting upon past (radium), present (iridium or cobalt), and future (ytterbium) methods. The book proceeds to examine source calibration and dosimetry protocols for dose rate calculation while the final chapters explore more recent processes, including Monte Carlo-aided, experimental, and gel dosimetry. The appendices provide useful tables of isotopes, unit conversions and physical constants, brachytherapy sources, TG-43 and TG-43 U1 data tables, and dose rate tables.

Detailing the physics behind brachytherapy treatment, The Physics of Modern Brachytherapy for Oncology is essential reading for researchers, practicing radiation oncologists, and medical physicists who want to keep abreast of the developments in this changing field as well as for postgraduate students in medical physics.

THE EARLY HISTORY OF BRACHYTHERAPY PHYSICS
Introduction
Discoveries
Ionization and X-Rays
a, ß, ?, and Half-Life
Nuclear Transformation
Rutherford-Bohr Atom
The Start of Brachytherapy
Dose Rates
Dosimetry Systems
Marie Curie
RADIATION QUANTITIES AND UNITS
Introduction
Ionization and Excitation
Radiometry
Interaction Coefficients
Dosimetry
Radioactivity
ATOMS, NUCLEI, ELEMENTARY PARTICLES, AND RADIATIONS
Atoms
Atomic Nucleus
Nuclear Transformation Processes
Modes of Decay
Elementary Particles and the Standard Model
INTERACTION PROPERTIES OF PHOTONS AND ELECTRONS
Introduction
Photon Interaction Processes
Mass Attenuation Coefficient
Mass Energy Absorption Coefficients
Electron Interaction Processes
BRACHYTHERAPY RADIONUCLIDES AND THEIR PROPERTIES
Introduction
Notation
60Cobalt
137Caesium
198Gold
192Iridium
125Iodine
103Palladium
169Ytterbium
170Thullium
PRODUCTION AND CONSTRUCTION OF SEALED SOURCES
Introduction
192Iridium Sources
125Iodine LDR Seeds
103Palladium LDR Seeds
169Ytterbium LDR Seeds
60Cobalt HDR Sources
137Cesium LDR Sources
198Gold HDR Seeds
170Thulium High Activity Seeds
131Caesium LDR Seeds
Enrichment Methods
ß-ray Emitting Microparticles and Nanoparticles
SOURCE SPECIFICATION AND SOURCE CALIBRATION
Source Specification
Source Calibration
SOURCE DOSIMETRY
Introduction
Coordinate Systems and Geometry Definition
Models of Dose Rate and Dose Calculation
MONTE CARLO-BASED SOURCE DOSIMETRY
Introduction
Monte Carlo Photon Transport Simulations
Monte Carlo-Based Dosimetry of Monoenergetic Photon Point Sources
Monte Carlo-Based Dosimetry of 103Pd, 125I, 169Yb, and 192Ir Point Sources
Monte Carlo-Based Dosimetry of Commercially Available 192Ir Source Designs
Monte Carlo-Based Dosimetry of 125I and 103Pd LDR Seeds
EXPERIMENTAL DOSIMETRY
Introduction
Phantom Material
Ionization Dosimetry
TLD Dosimetry
Polymer Gel Dosimetry in Brachytherapy
Appendix 1 Data Table of the Isotopes
Appendix 2: Unit Conversion Factors and Physical Constants
Appendix 3: TG-43 Tables for Brachytherapy Sources
Appendix 4: Dose Rate Tables for Brachytherapy Sources
Index
*Each chapter contains references.

Editorial Reviews

"Detailing the physics behind brachytherapy treatment, this book is essential reading for researchers, practicing radiation oncologists, and medical physicists who want to keep abreast of the developments in this changing field as well as for postgraduate students in medical physics."

–In Anticancer Research, Nov-Dec 2008, Vol. 28, No. 6B

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