Faculty

Course director 

Elizabeth Forde, Radiation Therapist, Trinity College, Dublin (IE)

Teachers 

• Philipp Scherer, Radiation Therapist, UK f Radiotherapy and Radio Oncology at PMU at SALK, (AT)  
• José Luis Lopez Guerra, Radiation Oncologist, University Hospital Virgen del Rocio, Sevilla (ES)  
• Helen Grimes, IGRT and Technical Development Lead Physicist, UCLH, London (UK)
• Lisa Wiersema, Radiation Therapist, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam (NL)  
• Peter Remeijer, Medical Physicist, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam (NL)  
• Sophie Bockel, Radiation Oncologist at Gustave Roussy, Paris (FR)

Local organizer: TBC

Although modern radiation therapy is a group effort of all members of the multidisciplinary team, this course is primarily designed for RTTs. In this way we will be able to give an overview of the steps in modern radiation therapy with enough time to develop tools and skills specific to RTTs. The theory taught in the lectures will be translated into practical sessions when possible.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course participants should be able to: 

• Appreciate where modern radiation therapy is at with respect to pre-treatment imaging and target definition, treatment planning and image guidance 

• Appreciate the importance of knowledge of the entire treatment chain of radiation therapy 
• Comprehend and calculate geometrical uncertainties and margins 
• Comprehend the physics of image registration and its influence on clinical image registration 
• Appreciate the importance of quality assurance. 

Course Content

• Pre-treatment imaging modalities: what is available and how is it used in target definition and organ at risk delineation? 
• Patient preparation and immobilisation: what is (im)possible, and is it still important in modern radiation therapy? 
• Geometrical uncertainties and correction strategies: what are the uncertainties in modern radiation therapy and how do correction strategies affect PTV margins? How to calculate your own margins (workshop) 
• Update on advances in radiotherapy treatment planning
• Imaging modalities in the treatment room: what is available and how can it be used to find the target volume? 
• Image registration and evaluation: how to make the best use of the images at hand  
• Understanding algorithms, regions of interest, correction reference points: how to create protocols for IGRT management (workshops and hands-on) 
• Site specific advanced treatment and IGRT techniques 
• Safety issues: the importance of incidence reporting and a feedback loop 
• Implementing and managing advanced treatment techniques: how to implement new gained skills in your department in a multidisciplinary environment.

Prerequisites

Before commencing this course, participants should have an interest in all steps of radiation therapy. All delegates are expected to take part in all lectures, tutorials, and workshops.

Teaching Methods

Approximately (4,5 days/36 h): 

• 23 hours of lectures 
• 3 hours of tutorials 
• 10 hours of practical workshops

Methods of Assessment

• MCQ  
• Delineation exercises 
• Evaluation form

Affilliations

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Key Words

• Radiation therapist (RTT) 
• Pre-treatment imaging 
• Treatment planning 
• Image guidance 
• Geometrical uncertainties

To follow

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Membership

ESTRO members can order products at substantially reduced prices. To benefit from the member registration rate, you must subscribe for the ESTRO membership 2024 BEFORE registering to the course. To become an ESTRO member, benefit from the member registration rate and discover the many other member advantages, please visit the membership page.

Fees

* Members with specialty RadiationTherapist (RTT) may register at the In-Training fee

Early rates are applied up to three months before the starting date of the course.

Late rates are applied three months before the starting date of the course.

The fee includes the course material, coffees, lunches, and the social event.

Advance registration & payment are required.

Access to homework and/or course material will become available upon receipt of full payment.

Insurance and cancellation

ESTRO does not accept liability for individual medical, travel or personal accidents or incidents. Participants are strongly advised to take out their own personal insurance policies.   

For any cancellation made by the course or workshop participant, ESTRO School Events Cancellation Policy will be followed and all stated penalty fees will be applied. 

In the unlikely event that ESTRO would need to cancel the event, ESTRO will reimburse the participants in full for the registration fee. ESTRO will not refund any travel and accommodation expenses.

Reduced fees

Members from emerging countries may register at a preferential rate of 350 Euro. Emerging country fee applies to individuals from low-income and lower-middle-income economies according to the World Bank listing here.

Additionally, for this teaching course, all specialties from the following countries can benefit from this preferential rate: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Hungary, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine.  In addition, medical physicists from Cyprus can email education@estro.org to apply for this fee.

The preferential rate of 350 Euro is granted automatically when you click on the  BOOK NOW  button and the conditions below are met:

1. Only ESTRO members for 2024 are eligible (please make sure your 2024 membership is in order before you click on the BOOK NOW button)
2. The application is submitted 3 months before the course start date.
3. Only one course per person per year can be subsidized by ESTRO
4. Sponsored candidates are not entitled to reduced fees (the invoicing address has to be the one of the participant)  
5. The are limited spaces available for each course in the price category. Places are granted on “first come first serve” basis.

The ESTRO Solidarity Fund receives generous funding from the ESTRO Supporting Ambassador members. This fund enables the financing of three educational grants for one ESTRO course in 2024.

Each grant is set at 1,500€ and is intended to cover the cost of one registration for the course (350€). Additionally, it assists in partially reimbursing expenses related to travel, on-site accommodation and food.

Reimbursements will be based on expense reports provided by the beneficiary, ensuring that the total reimbursement does not exceed the grant amount under any circumstances.

Selection criteria

• Applications for educational grants will be processed by ESTRO on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Applicants should be:
  • ESTRO members in 2024 
  • Currently in training
  • Active in the field of radiotherapy, radiobiology, radiation physics, or radiation technology.
  • Citizens of low or upper middle income countries (based on the World bank listing).
• Applicants should have not utilized the ESTRO Solidarity Fund to attend events within the past two years.
• Applicant must provide the application form, a curriculum vitae and a recommendation letter from their head of department confirming their current training status and the essential need for financial assistance to attend the ESTRO event, and highlighting the benefits to the department or institute.
• Applicants are required to commit to writing a course report.

Deadline for submission of application : 2 months before the day the course starts

Download the application form here

Application should be sent to info@estro.org