Course Report
Comprehensive and practical brachytherapy

PDF Version

11-15 June 2023, Bucharest, Romania

My name is Beatrice Anghel, and I am a radiation oncologist at Sanador Oncology Center in Bucharest, Romania. I would like to share my experience of the most recent Comprehensive and Practical Brachytherapy course that was organised by ESTRO.

This is a short note to you, enthusiastic brachytherapy juniors and more experienced colleagues in the brachytherapy field, who want to participate or plan to do so soon. Whether or not you have a particular interest in brachytherapy, this course could be the starting block for your future endeavours.

I want to share a few thoughts about this amazing brachytherapy course, which is led by international brachytherapy experts (physicians, physicists, and radiation therapists).

This was an interactive five-day course, which comprised theoretical and practical lessons that complemented each other. Tumour sites were discussed in terms of up-to-date scientific evidence and then practical cases were analysed via discussions/questions related to selection criteria, pre-planning, real-time procedures (photos, videos), technical issues, contouring, planning, etc. The programme included a variety of cancer sites and education was provided for different levels (junior, intermediate and senior).

Some of the most experienced brachytherapy vendors (Varian, Elekta) joined and exhibited with passion and dedication to their applications and most recently introduced tools. I observed that the most recently produced applicators were the result of collaboration between clinicians and companies. I would like to thank the companies for making possible this access to company representatives and for enabling improved knowledge of these members of the brachytherapy family through their hands-on workshops.

During these hands-on sessions, a member of the ESTRO faculty was present to support the use of the machines, to clarify and explain the reasons for the ways in which they were being used, and to give technical details regarding the procedures. The liberty for discussion that they offered through their approach was admirable.

Another important thing was the introduction of treatment planning demos and real cases, while a member of the ESTRO faculty offered strong support for the case run, helping the vendor company and even going into more detail by giving tips on how to improve the implant in an organised and timely manner.

I appreciated the emphasis on collaboration that we need with physicists and radiation therapists and their work in order to have an optimal implant. The key is multidisciplinarity, and we saw through this course that all members must be united in knowing all the steps during the procedure.

The limited resources available at some brachytherapy units were not a challenge for the faculty and support was offered. This aspect reinforced our motivation to increase awareness of working with the technology available and cherish the skills we already had, and collaborate with industry in order to serve our patients better.

3D printing was a hot topic and literature was provided.

The faculty continued its hard work after hours when some of the most important real-life tips were given in a more relaxed manner, ideas were shared and attendees could meet colleagues from all over the world.

I urge future attendees, do not forget to do your homework! Whether you are a novice in contouring or a pro, you will surely learn something new. I noticed a significant improvement in my use of the Educase platform, which makes contouring easier.

I hope my comments have supported objectively the great value of this amazing brachytherapy course that is led by professionals and innovative industry workers.

Dinner June 2023

Beatrice Anghel
Radiation oncologist
Sanador Oncology Center
Bucharest, Romania
Beatrice.anghel@sanador.ro