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From background physics and biological models to the latest imaging and treatment modalities, the Handbook of Radiotherapy Physics: Theory and Practice covers all theoretical and practical aspects of radiotherapy physics.

In this comprehensive reference, each part focuses on a major area of radiotherapy, beginning with an introduction by the editors and then subdividing into self-contained chapters. The first three parts present the fundamentals of the underlying physics, radiobiology, and technology involved. The ensuing sections discuss the support requirements of external beam radiotherapy, such as dose measurements, properties of clinical beams, patient dose computation, treatment planning, and quality assurance, followed by a part that explores exciting new advances that include developments in photon and particle therapy. Subsequent sections examine brachytherapy using sealed and unsealed sources and provide the framework of radiation protection, including an appendix that describes the detailed application of UK legislation. The final part contains handy tables of both physical constants and attenuation data.

To achieve safe and effective radiotherapy, there needs to be a close understanding among various disciplines. With contributions from renowned specialists, the Handbook of Radiotherapy Physics: Theory and Practice provides essential theoretical and practical knowledge for medical physicists, researchers, radiation oncologists, and radiation technologists.

Features:

Delineates the biological factors that can optimize radiation therapy and the equipment used in external beam radiotherapy for treatment, simulation, and verification

Describes the measurements required to accurately predict dose distributions, taking into account clinical beam and patient characteristics

Outlines treatment planning algorithms and models as well as the essential treatment planning steps

Explores state-of-the-art treatment techniques, such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy, stereotactic fixation, total body irradiation, total skin irradiation, tomotherapy, particle radiotherapy, breathing adapted radiotherapy, and intensity-modulated arc therapy

Discusses brachytherapy and targeted radionuclide therapy, including new tumor-specific pharmaceuticals

Covers the risks associated with radiation treatment, the regulatory framework, and practical issues, such as the design of treatment rooms

Table of Contents:

Preface

FUNDAMENTALS
Structure of Matter
Radioactivity
Interaction of Charged Particles with Matter
Interactions of Photons with Matter
The Monte Carlo Simulation of Radiation Transport
Principles and Basic Concepts in Radiation Dosimetry

RADIOBIOLOGY
Radiobiology of Tumors
Radiobiology of Normal Tissues
Dose Fractionation in Radiotherapy

EQUIPMENT
Kilovoltage X-Ray Units
Linear Accelerators
Cobalt Machines
Simulators
Portal Imaging Devices

DOSE MEASUREMENT
Ionisation Chambers
Radiothermoluminescent Dosimeters and Diodes
Radiation Sensitive Films and Gels
Absolute Dose Determination under Reference Conditions
Relative Dose Measurements and Commissioning

CLINICAL BEAMS
From Measurements to Calculations
Kilovoltage X-Rays
Megavoltage Photon Beams
Manual Dose Calculations in Photon Beams
Electron Beams

PATIENT DOSE COMPUTATION METHODS
Principles of Patient Dose Computation
Patient Dose Computation for Photon Beams
Patient Dose Computation for Electron Beams
Monte-Carlo Based Patient Dose Computation

TREATMENT PLANNING
Target Definition
Patient Data Acquisition
Magnetic Resonance (MR) Imaging in Treatment Planning
Beam Definition - Virtual Simulation
Photon-Beam Treatment Planning Techniques
Electron-Beam Treatment Planning Techniques
Dose Evaluation of Treatment Plans
Biological Evaluation of Treatment Plans

QUALITY ASSURANCE
Rationale and Management of the Quality System
Quality Control of Megavoltage Equipment
Quality Assurance of the Treatment Planning Process
Quality Control of Treatment Delivery
Recording and Verification - Networking
Data Communication with DICOM

SPECIAL TECHNIQUES
Conformal and Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy
Intensity-Modulation Therapy: Practical Aspects
Stereotactic Techniques
Proton Beams in Radiotherapy
Total Body Irradiation (TBI)
Total Skin Electron Irradiation
High LET Modalities

BRACHYTHERAPY
Clinical Introduction to Brachytherapy
Calibration and Quality Assurance of Brachytherapy Sources
Afterloading Equipment for Brachytherapy
Dose Calculation for Brachytherapy Sources
Brachytherapy Treatment Planning
Radiobiology of Brachytherapy

THERAPY WITH UNSEALED SOURCES
Dosimetry of Unsealed Sources
Radionuclide Selection for Unsealed Source Therapy
Radiopharmaceutical Targeting for Unsealed Source Therapy

RADIATION PROTECTION IN RADIOTHERAPY
Theoretical Background to Radiation Protection
Radiation Protection Regulation
Practical Radiation Protection in Radiotherapy
Radiation Protection Regulation in the United Kingdom
REFERENCE DATA