3 ECTS credits
90 h study time
Offer 1 with catalog number 4016101ENR for all students in the 1st semester at a (E) Master - advanced level.
This course presents a comprehensive overview of medical dosimetry for radiotherapy and radiology. The course starts with a general overview of radiation physics and radiobiology. Detection methods will be covered with special emphasis on the basic principle, properties and limitation of each approach for daily practice and problem solving. The concepts of absorbed dose and dosimetric principles will be covered in detail for both reference conditions and non-reference conditions in radiotherapy, with special emphasis on International Codes of Practice and novel delivery techniques. A special chapter is dedicated to dose calculation algorithms, optimization strategies and treatment planning. Dosimetry for radiology techniques is covered both for personnel and patient dose optimization. A final chapter is dedicated to quality assurance and hazard analysis.
The following chapters are covered:
General overview and radiobiology, Detection methods, Absorbed dose and dosimetric principles, Absolute dose in reference and non-standard conditions, Dose calculation and optimization algorithms, Dosimetry in radiology, Quality Assurance and Hazard Analysis.
A practical session (workshop) will be organized during 1 or 2 weekends to familiarize the students with the practical aspects of medical dosimetry. The students will have access to a medical linear accelerator and acquire basic beam data.
For more information, please contact: dirk.verellen@uzbrussel.be
Study material:
- Handouts of the lectures
- Review of Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students, Ed. Ervin B. Podgorsak, IAEA Educational Reports Series, 2003 (http://www-naweb.iaea.org/nahu/dmrp/syllabus.shtm )
- Code of Practice: TRS398 and NCS 18
Complementary study material
- Radiotherapy Physics, Williams and Thwaites
- Physics of Radiotherapy, F. Khan
- The essential physics of medical imaging, J.T. Bushberg
The student will acquire basic knowledge on sources and properties of ionizing radiation, interaction processes and radiobiology.
The student will understand the operation, properties and limitations of various detection methodes.
The student will be able to determine absorbed dose in reference and non-referance conditions.
The student will be able to acquire beam data from medical accelerators neccessary for dose calculation and optimization in radiotherapy
The student will be able to explain the principles of different dose calculation algorithms
The student understands the principles behing dose optimization and inverse planning in radiotherapy
The student is able to perform low, medium and high energy photon dosimetry
The student understands the principles of dosimetry in medical imaging (patient and staff)
The student is able to set-up a quality assurance program in rdiotherapy
The student understands the different layers in hazard analysis and safety in radiotherapy.
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Other Exam determines 100% of the final mark.
Within the Other Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
The examination is viva voce: a written preparation to structure the answers, followed by discussion
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Biomedical Engineering: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Biomedical Engineering: Startplan
Master of Biomedical Engineering: Profile Radiation Physics
Master of Biomedical Engineering: Profile Biomechanics and Biomaterials
Master of Biomedical Engineering: Profile Sensors and Medical Devices
Master of Biomedical Engineering: Profile Neuro-Engineering
Master of Biomedical Engineering: Standaard traject (NIEUW)
Postgraduate Certificate Expert in Medical Physics: Standaard traject