The Physics & Technology of Radiation Therapy
Author: Patrick McDermott and Colin OrtonISBN: 9781930524323
Published: 2010 | 856 pp. | Hardcover
Price: $ 125.00
Medical Physics, 38 (6) | June 2011
Description
This
is a book on the physics of radiation therapy that covers basic principles and
new technologies in the field and how they apply to clinical practice. It is a
well-referenced and easy to read text. It is a text designed as a parallel text
or an alternative to well-established texts in the field of radiotherapy physics.
In addition, the authors have made an extra effort to correlate the content of
their text with the ABR for residents AART and MDCB board examinations physics requirements.
Purpose
The
authors have successfully addressed the most common aspects of radiation
physics from an educational and a practical perspective. They provide all the
necessary information that is useful to radiation oncology residents, medical
dosimetrists, and technology students. For individuals who are interested in
further investigation, the reference list provided at the end of each chapter
can assist a great deal.
Audience
This
book is primarily directed toward the needs of radiation oncology residents since
it has been developed through years of experienced teaching in residency
programs, but in my opinion, it can also be useful to medical dosimetry and
therapy technology students For practitioners in the field of radiotherapy, it
can serve as a great supplemental resource for those who need to practice
problem solving. I would strongly recommend the text to any radiation therapy
technology training program, dosimetry program, and medical residency program
in radiation oncology.
Content/Features
The
contents of the book are laid out in 20 chapters and four appendices. All
chapters include black and white graphs and figures to assist the reader. In
the middle of the book, the authors have placed 40 color plates that correspond
to figures already embedded in the text, which as a reader, I found to be very
useful and well designed. There are numerous tables with data and information
pertinent to the text that can be used in problem solving. There are calculated
examples in almost every paragraph within a darker background that is
noticeable to the reader and makes the topic more easily understood. Wherever possible,
the authors have included “rule of thumb” tables that are designated by a thumb
up symbol. I found those tables valuable for review and examination
preparation. At the end of each chapter, the authors have presented a concise chapter
of summary problems and a bibliography. The chapters start from traditional
topics of radiation therapy physics and extend to new technologies and
modalities. Wherever pertinent, the authors underline the importance of quality
control, quality assurance, and patient safety. Appendix A outlines the physics
topics required to be covered by the ABR board certification for radiation oncology,
the AART board certification for radiologic technologists, and the MDCB
certification for medical dosimetrists. Appendix B presents tabulated dosimetry
data. Appendix C gives typical linac beam data called Mevelac beam data, by the
authors, and Appendix D provides the answers to the problems in the text.
Chapters
1 and 2 cover basic mathematics and physics, in a review fashion. Chapters 3
through 6 cover atomic nuclei, radioactivity, x-ray production and technology, and
interaction of radiation with matter. Since electron beams have been routinely
used in radiotherapy and are an integral part of standard treatment modalities,
they are covered in Chapter 15, along with their dosimetry. Chapters 7 and 8 describe
radiation measurement and detection methods and systems. Chapters 9 through 12
cover linac technology, photon dosimetry, photon beam calibration, calculation
of monitor units, and shaped photon fields. Chapters 14 through 16 present photon
dose distribution methods of computations, electron beam dosimetry, and
brachytherapy, which are the heart of clinical practice. Chapters 17 through 20
cover radiation protection, quality assurance, and patient safety, and all the
new technologies from imaging in radiation therapy to special modalities and
special procedures as well as their use in the clinical setting.
I
found the text up-to-date and current with all the technologies and techniques that
are seen today in radiotherapy physics and radiation oncology practice.
Assessment/Comparison
The
text has a practical approach to the application of radiotherapy physics and
planning that will primarily assists radiation therapy medical residents and
technologists in building their background knowledge and understanding of why
and how things happen in the clinical environment. For medical residents in
radiation oncology, it can serve as a quick review “manual” that incorporates
all the basic definitions and recent developments in the field. Without
hesitation I recommend the text as a teaching tool for radiation therapy
residencies and radiologic technology training programs.
Dimitris
Mihailidis, Ph.D.
Charleston
Radiation Therapy Consultants
Charleston,
WV