Medical Physics

  1. Physics of Radiation Therapy
    1. Principles of Radiation Oncology
      1. Therapeutic Ratio Concepts
        1. Tumor Control Probability (TCP)
          1. Dose-Response Relationships
            1. Sigmoid Curve Characteristics
            2. Normal Tissue Complication Probability (NTCP)
              1. Tolerance Doses
                1. Volume Effects
                2. Therapeutic Window Optimization
                3. Radiobiology Fundamentals
                  1. Cell Survival Curves
                    1. Linear-Quadratic Model
                      1. Alpha/Beta Ratios
                        1. Survival Fraction Calculations
                        2. Fractionation Principles
                          1. Conventional Fractionation
                            1. Hypofractionation
                              1. Hyperfractionation
                                1. Biologically Effective Dose (BED)
                                2. Radiosensitivity Factors
                                  1. Intrinsic Radiosensitivity
                                    1. Cell Cycle Effects
                                      1. Oxygen Enhancement Ratio
                                      2. Four Rs of Radiobiology
                                        1. Repair of Sublethal Damage
                                          1. Redistribution in Cell Cycle
                                            1. Repopulation
                                              1. Reoxygenation
                                          2. External Beam Radiotherapy Equipment
                                            1. Medical Linear Accelerators (LINACs)
                                              1. Accelerator Components
                                                1. Electron Gun
                                                  1. Accelerating Waveguide
                                                    1. Magnetron or Klystron
                                                      1. Electron Path and Steering
                                                      2. Treatment Head Components
                                                        1. Target and Flattening Filter
                                                          1. Primary Collimator
                                                            1. Monitor Chambers
                                                              1. Secondary Collimation System
                                                              2. Photon Beam Production
                                                                1. Bremsstrahlung Target Interaction
                                                                  1. Beam Flattening
                                                                    1. Energy Selection
                                                                    2. Electron Beam Production
                                                                      1. Electron Path Modification
                                                                        1. Scattering Foils
                                                                          1. Electron Applicators
                                                                        2. Cobalt-60 Teletherapy Units
                                                                          1. Source Characteristics
                                                                            1. Gamma Ray Energies
                                                                              1. Source Activity and Decay
                                                                              2. Unit Design
                                                                                1. Source Housing
                                                                                  1. Collimation System
                                                                                    1. Treatment Head Rotation
                                                                                    2. Source Replacement Procedures
                                                                                      1. Dosimetric Characteristics
                                                                                    3. Photon Beam Dosimetry
                                                                                      1. Beam Characterization
                                                                                        1. Central Axis Depth Dose
                                                                                          1. Percentage Depth Dose (PDD)
                                                                                            1. Tissue-Air Ratio (TAR)
                                                                                              1. Tissue-Phantom Ratio (TPR)
                                                                                                1. Tissue-Maximum Ratio (TMR)
                                                                                                2. Off-Axis Dose Profiles
                                                                                                  1. Beam Flatness
                                                                                                    1. Beam Symmetry
                                                                                                      1. Penumbra Characteristics
                                                                                                      2. Output Factors
                                                                                                        1. Field Size Dependence
                                                                                                          1. Collimator Scatter Factor
                                                                                                            1. Phantom Scatter Factor
                                                                                                          2. Beam Modification Devices
                                                                                                            1. Collimation Systems
                                                                                                              1. Fixed Collimators
                                                                                                                1. Adjustable Collimators
                                                                                                                  1. Multileaf Collimators (MLCs)
                                                                                                                    1. Leaf Design Parameters
                                                                                                                      1. Leaf Positioning Accuracy
                                                                                                                        1. Leakage and Transmission
                                                                                                                      2. Beam Shaping Devices
                                                                                                                        1. Physical Wedges
                                                                                                                          1. Wedge Angles
                                                                                                                            1. Wedge Factors
                                                                                                                            2. Dynamic Wedges
                                                                                                                              1. Jaw Movement Patterns
                                                                                                                                1. Dose Rate Modulation
                                                                                                                                2. Compensators
                                                                                                                                  1. Design Principles
                                                                                                                                    1. Material Selection
                                                                                                                                    2. Bolus Materials
                                                                                                                                      1. Tissue Equivalence
                                                                                                                                        1. Clinical Applications
                                                                                                                                    3. Field Shaping and Dose Distribution
                                                                                                                                      1. Isodose Curve Analysis
                                                                                                                                        1. Field Junction Techniques
                                                                                                                                          1. Multiple Field Arrangements
                                                                                                                                            1. Parallel Opposed Fields
                                                                                                                                              1. Three-Field Techniques
                                                                                                                                                1. Four-Field Box Techniques
                                                                                                                                            2. Electron Beam Therapy
                                                                                                                                              1. Electron Beam Physics
                                                                                                                                                1. Energy Selection Criteria
                                                                                                                                                  1. Depth Dose Characteristics
                                                                                                                                                    1. Therapeutic Range
                                                                                                                                                      1. Practical Range
                                                                                                                                                        1. Bremsstrahlung Tail
                                                                                                                                                        2. Lateral Dose Profiles
                                                                                                                                                          1. Field Size Effects
                                                                                                                                                          2. Electron Beam Delivery
                                                                                                                                                            1. Applicator Systems
                                                                                                                                                              1. Standard Applicators
                                                                                                                                                                1. Custom Cutouts
                                                                                                                                                                  1. Internal Shielding
                                                                                                                                                                  2. Bolus Applications
                                                                                                                                                                    1. Abutment Techniques
                                                                                                                                                                    2. Clinical Applications
                                                                                                                                                                      1. Superficial Lesions
                                                                                                                                                                        1. Boost Treatments
                                                                                                                                                                          1. Total Body Irradiation
                                                                                                                                                                        2. Particle Therapy
                                                                                                                                                                          1. Proton Therapy
                                                                                                                                                                            1. Physical Principles
                                                                                                                                                                              1. Proton Interactions in Tissue
                                                                                                                                                                                1. Bragg Peak Characteristics
                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Range-Energy Relationships
                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Beam Delivery Systems
                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Passive Scattering
                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Pencil Beam Scanning
                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Uniform Scanning
                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Treatment Planning Considerations
                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Range Uncertainties
                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Relative Biological Effectiveness (RBE)
                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Facility Requirements
                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Cyclotron or Synchrotron
                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Beam Transport Systems
                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Gantry Design
                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Heavy Ion Therapy
                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Carbon Ion Properties
                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Enhanced Biological Effectiveness
                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Fragmentation Effects
                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Clinical Applications
                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Treatment Planning Systems
                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Patient Data Acquisition
                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. CT Simulation
                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Immobilization Devices
                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Contrast Protocols
                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Image Quality Requirements
                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Multi-Modality Imaging
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. MRI Integration
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. PET Integration
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Image Registration
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Treatment Planning Software
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Anatomy Definition
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Target Volume Delineation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Gross Tumor Volume (GTV)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Clinical Target Volume (CTV)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Planning Target Volume (PTV)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Organs at Risk (OAR) Contouring
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. Beam Arrangement
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Beam Angle Selection
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Isocenter Placement
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Field Shaping
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Dose Calculation Algorithms
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Pencil Beam Algorithms
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Convolution Methods
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Superposition Algorithms
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Monte Carlo Methods
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Particle Transport Simulation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Variance Reduction Techniques
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Grid-Based Boltzmann Equation Solvers
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. Plan Evaluation Tools
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Dose Volume Histograms (DVHs)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Cumulative DVH
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Differential DVH
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. DVH Analysis Parameters
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Isodose Distribution Analysis
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Dose Statistics
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Plan Comparison Methods
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Advanced Treatment Techniques
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Inverse Planning Process
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Objective Functions
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Optimization Algorithms
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Constraint Handling
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Delivery Methods
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Step-and-Shoot IMRT
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Dynamic MLC IMRT
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Tomotherapy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Quality Assurance Requirements
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Fluence Map Verification
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Dose Distribution Verification
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Arc Delivery Principles
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Gantry Rotation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. MLC Movement
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Dose Rate Modulation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Planning Considerations
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Arc Arrangement
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Optimization Constraints
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Delivery Efficiency
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Stereotactic Techniques
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Frame-Based Systems
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Frameless Systems
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Image Guidance Requirements
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Single Fraction Delivery
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Hypofractionation Schedules
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Motion Management
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Respiratory Gating
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Breath Hold Techniques
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Tracking Systems
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Target Localization
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Imaging Modalities
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Portal Imaging
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Cone Beam CT (CBCT)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Ultrasound Guidance
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Implanted Markers
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Registration Techniques
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Rigid Registration
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Deformable Registration
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Correction Strategies
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Setup Error Correction
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Adaptive Planning
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Brachytherapy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Radioactive Source Characteristics
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Source Types and Designs
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Sealed Sources
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Source Encapsulation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Radionuclides for Brachytherapy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Cesium-137
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Iridium-192
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Iodine-125
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Palladium-103
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Source Strength Specification
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Air Kerma Strength
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Apparent Activity
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Reference Air Kerma Rate
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Dose Rate Classifications
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Low-Dose-Rate (LDR) Brachytherapy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Permanent Implants
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Temporary Implants
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Dose Rate Ranges
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. High-Dose-Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Remote Afterloading
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Treatment Delivery
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Fractionation Schemes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Pulsed-Dose-Rate (PDR) Brachytherapy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Pulse Characteristics
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Biological Considerations
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Application Techniques
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Interstitial Brachytherapy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Needle Placement Techniques
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Seed Implantation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Template-Based Approaches
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Intracavitary Brachytherapy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Gynecological Applications
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Applicator Design
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Optimization Methods
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Surface Applicators
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Mold Techniques
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Contact Therapy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Dosimetry and Treatment Planning
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Dose Calculation Formalisms
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. TG-43 Formalism
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Point Source Approximation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Line Source Approximation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Treatment Planning Systems
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. 3D Planning
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Optimization Algorithms
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Dose Volume Analysis
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Quality Assurance
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Source Calibration
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Treatment Plan Verification
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Applicator QA

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Go to top

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. Radiation Protection and Dosimetry