The aim of the course is to provide:

• Understanding of the principles and background of IMRT, IGRT, SBRT and ART

• Knowledge on the impact of various geometrical uncertainties and where they can be minimised

• Knowledge of QA of IMRT, IGRT and ART

• An overview of available techniques, being able to choose between techniques and knowledge of their limitations

• Planar and 3D in room imaging

• Workflow and efficiency at the department for implementation of IMRT, IGRT and ART

• Clinical rationale, limitations and evidence for advanced technologies 

• Knowledge of inverse treatment planning optimisation, biological optimisation and dose painting.

• Contouring tips in Lung and Head and Neck cancers

Learning Outcomes’

By the end of this course participants should have gained knowledge to assist in:

• Implement and safely and effectively apply IMRT, IGRT, SBRT and ART in their own clinic

• Tailor IMRT, IGRT, SBRT and ART to their specific clinical situations..

Course content

• Panel and participants discussion: IMRT and IGRT, the case for and against

• Dose volume constraints

• Methods of optimisation

• Dosimetry of IMRT

• Imaging and target delineation

• Geometrical uncertainties

• Planar and volumetric imaging

• Image registration

• Setup correction strategies

• Clinical sessions on thorax, pelvic and head and neck cancer covering the interaction of physics and clinic

• Workflow in the clinic including “how they do that” tips.

• Contouring sessions

Prerequisites

The course is aimed at the whole team involved in clinical application of advanced technology. Participants are strongly encouraged to come as a team i.e. radiation oncologist, physicist and radiation therapists (RTTs). Some experience in advanced technologies is preferred yet no specific entry-course or expertise is requested.

Teaching methods

• 26 hours of lectures

• 4 hours of demonstrations.

Methods of assessment

Evaluation form.

Key words

IMRT/VMAT, Image guidance (IGRT), adaptive radiotherapy (ART), SBRT.

Course director

Ben Heijmen, Medical Physicist,

   Anil Anand, Radiation Oncologist,

Teachers

• Coen Rasch, Radiation Oncologist, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam (NL)
• Andrew Hope, Radiation Oncologist, Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto (CA) 

To follow

Registrations

The registrations are managed by AROI.  Further information will follow.