2nd Edition
Handbook of Radiotherapy Physics Theory and Practice, Second Edition, Two Volume Set
From the essential background physics and radiobiology to the latest imaging and treatment modalities, the updated second edition of Handbook of Radiotherapy Physics: Theory & Practice covers all aspects of the subject.
In Volume 1, Part A includes the Interaction of Radiation with Matter (charged particles and photons) and the Fundamentals of Dosimetry with an extensive section on small-field physics. Part B covers Radiobiology with increased emphasis on hypofractionation. Part C describes Equipment for Imaging and Therapy including MR-guided linear accelerators. Part D on Dose Measurement includes chapters on ionisation chambers, solid-state detectors, film and gels, as well as a detailed description and explanation of Codes of Practice for Reference Dose Determination including detector correction factors in small fields. Part E describes the properties of Clinical (external) Beams. The various methods (or ‘algorithms’) for Computing Doses in Patients irradiated by photon, electron and proton beams are described in Part F with increased emphasis on Monte-Carlo-based and grid-based deterministic algorithms.
In Volume 2, Part G covers all aspects of Treatment Planning including CT-, MR- and Radionuclide-based patient imaging, Intensity-Modulated Photon Beams, Electron and Proton Beams, Stereotactic and Total Body Irradiation and the use of the dosimetric and radiobiological metrics TCP and NTCP for plan evaluation and optimisation. Quality Assurance fundamentals with application to equipment and processes are covered in Part H. Radionuclides, equipment and methods for Brachytherapy and Targeted Molecular Therapy are covered in Parts I and J, respectively. Finally, Part K is devoted to Radiation Protection of the public, staff and patients. Extensive tables of Physical Constants, Photon, Electron and Proton Interaction data, and typical Photon Beam and Radionuclide data are given in Part L.
Edited by recognised authorities in the field, with individual chapters written by renowned specialists, this second edition of Handbook of Radiotherapy Physics provides the essential up-to-date theoretical and practical knowledge to deliver safe and effective radiotherapy. It will be of interest to clinical and research medical physicists, radiation oncologists, radiation technologists, PhD and Master’s students.
Part A Fundamentals
Chapter 1 Structure of Matter
Jean Chavaudra
Chapter 2 Radioactivity
Jean Chavaudra
Chapter 3 Interactions of Charged Particles with Matter
Alan Nahum
Chapter 4 Interactions of Uncharged Particles with Matter
David R. Dance, Jean-Claude Rosenwald, and Gudrun Alm Carlsson
Chapter 5 Principles and Basic Concepts in Radiation Dosimetry
Alan Nahum
References
Part B Radiobiology
Chapter 6 Radiobiology of Tumours
Gordon Steel, Catharine West, and Alan Nahum
Chapter 7 Radiobiology of Normal Tissues
Gordon Steel and Catharine West
Chapter 8 Dose Fractionation in Radiotherapy
Gordon Steel, Catharine West, and Alan Nahum
References
Part C Equipment
Chapter 9 Equipment for Patient Data Acquisition
Jean-Claude Rosenwald
Chapter 10 Kilovoltage X-Ray Units
Tony Greener and David Eaton
Chapter 11 Traditional Linear Accelerators
Hamish Porter
Chapter 12 Machines with Radionuclide Sources
John Saunders, Lee Walton, and Katharine Hunt
Chapter 13 In-Room Imaging Devices Used for Treatment
Cephas Mubata
Chapter 14 CyberKnife, TomoTherapy and MR-Guided Linear Accelerators
Thomas Lacornerie, Albert Lisbona, and Andrew W. Beavis
Chapter 15 Accelerators for Protons and Other Heavy Charged Particles
Alejandro Mazal and Annalisa Patriarca
References
Part D Dose Measurement
Chapter 16 Ionisation Chambers
Bryan Muir and Alan Nahum
Chapter 17 Solid-State Dose Measuring Devices
Ginette Marinello
Chapter 18 Two-dimensional and Three-dimensional Dosimetry
Mark Oldham, Devon Godfrey, Titania Juang, and Andrew Thomas
Chapter 19 Reference Dose Determination under Reference Conditions
Alan Nahum and Bryan Muir
Chapter 20 Relative Dose Measurements
Ivan Rosenberg
References
Part E Clinical Beams
Chapter 21 The Framework Relating Measurements to Calculation of Delivered Dose
Philip Mayles
Chapter 22 Kilovoltage X-Ray Beams
Philip Mayles
Chapter 23 High-Energy Photon Beams
Philip Mayles
Chapter 24 Electron Beams
David Thwaites and Alan McKenzie
Chapter 25 Proton and Other Heavy Charged-Particle Beams
Alejandro Mazal and Ludovic de Marzi
References
Part F Patient Dose Calculation Methods
Chapter 26 Parameters and Methodology for Point Dose Calculation in Photon Beams
Ivan Rosenberg and Jean-Claude Rosenwald
Chapter 27 Framework for Computation of Patient Dose Distribution
Jean-Claude Rosenwald
Chapter 28 Photon Beams: Broad-Beam and Superposition Methods
Jean-Claude Rosenwald, Ivan Rosenberg, and Glyn Shentall
Chapter 29 Charged-Particle Beams: The Pencil-Beam Approach
Alan Nahum
Chapter 30 Monte-Carlo and Grid-Based-Deterministic Models for Patient Dose Computation
Alan Nahum and Jean-Claude Rosenwald
References
VOLUME 2
Preface to the Second Edition
The Editors
List of Contributors to the Second Edition
Part G Treatment Planning
Chapter 31 Target and Organ at Risk Definition – Dose Prescription and Reporting
Anthony Neal and Jean-Claude Rosenwald
Chapter 32 Computed Tomography Imaging in Radiotherapy
Nathalie Fournier-Bidoz
Chapter 33 Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Treatment Planning
Vincent S. Khoo
Chapter 34 Radionuclide Imaging in Treatment Planning
Yolande Petegnief
Chapter 35 Image Registration, Segmentation and Virtual Simulation
Vibeke Nordmark Hansen and Jean-Claude Rosenwald
Chapter 36 Photon-Beam Forward Planning Techniques
Peter Childs and Christine Lord
Chapter 37 Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy and Inverse Planning
Helen Mayles, John Fenwick, and Steve Webb
Chapter 38 Electron-Beam Treatment Planning Techniques
Alan McKenzie and David Thwaites (Updated by Philip Mayles)
Chapter 39 Proton-Beam Treatment Planning Techniques
Francesca Albertini, Alessandra Bolsi, and Juliane Daartz
Chapter 40 Intracranial and Body Stereotactic Radiotherapy
Jim Warrington and Vivian Cosgrove
Chapter 41 Total Body Irradiation
Philip Mayles
Chapter 42 Total Skin Electron Irradiation
David Thwaites and Alan McKenzie (Updated by Philip Mayles)
Chapter 43 Dose Evaluation of Treatment Plans
Margaret Bidmead and Jean-Claude Rosenwald
Chapter 44 Radiobiological Evaluation and Optimisation of Treatment Plans
Alan Nahum and Eva Onjukka
References
Part H Quality Assurance
Chapter 45 Quality and Safety Management
Philip Mayles, David Thwaites, and Jean-Claude Rosenwald
Chapter 46 Quality Control of High-Energy External Beams
Edwin Aird, Philip Mayles, and Cephas Mubata
Chapter 47 Quality Assurance of the Treatment Planning Process
Jean-Claude Rosenwald
Chapter 48 Quality Assurance of Treatment Delivery
Margaret Bidmead, Nathalie Fournier-Bidoz, Ginette Marinello, Jean-Claude Rosenwald, Helen Mayles
Chapter 49 Data Communication with DICOM
John Sage, John N.H. Brunt and Philip Mayles
References
Part I Brachytherapy
Chapter 50 Brachytherapy Clinical Introduction
Peter Hoskin
Chapter 51 Calibration and Quality Assurance of Sources
Colin H. Jones and Chris D. Lee
Chapter 52 Afterloading Equipment for Brachytherapy
Margaret Bidmead
Chapter 53 Dose Calculation for Brachytherapy Sources
Philip Mayles
Chapter 54 Brachytherapy Treatment Planning
Margaret Bidmead, Dorothy Ingham, Peter Bownes and Chris D. Lee
Chapter 55 Radiobiology of Brachytherapy
Roger Dale
References
Part J Therapy with Unsealed Sources
Chapter 56 Radionuclide Selection for Targeted Molecular Radiotherapy
Caroline Stokke
Chapter 57 Targeted Molecular Radiotherapy – Clinical Considerations and Dosimetry
Glenn Flux and Alan Nahum
References
Part K Radiation Protection in Radiotherapy
Chapter 58 Theoretical Background to Radiation Protection
Mike Rosenbloom and Philip Mayles
Chapter 59 Radiation Protection Regulation
Mike Rosenbloom and Philip Mayles
Chapter 60 Radiation Protection of Staff and the Public
Mike Rosenbloom and Philip Mayles
Chapter 61 Radiation Protection of the Patient
Philip Mayles and Uwe Schneider
Appendix K1: A Regulatory Framework (UK example
Philip Mayles
Appendix K2: Example Wall Thickness Calculations
Philip Mayles
Appendix K3: Example Local Rules for Handling Radioactive Sources
Mike Rosenbloom and Philip Mayles
References
Part L Data Tables
Tables L1 Physical Constants and Useful Data
Tables L2 Charged Particle Stopping Power and Range
Tables L3 Photon Interaction Coefficients
Tables L4 Typical Megavoltage Photon Beam Data.
Biography
Philip Mayles, formerly of the Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology, UK.
Alan Nahum, formerly of the Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology, UK.
Jean Claude Rosenwald, formerly at Institute Curie, Paris, France.
Praise for the first edition:
"… Due to the broad range of topics covered and the clear, concise explanations, this text would be ideal for anyone wishing to study or refresh their knowledge of any central area of radiotherapy physics. IPEM Part 1 trainees in the UK (and any other trainee following a similar training programme elsewhere) in particular should take note … . Part 2 trainees will also benefit, especially in exploring the excellent source of referenced material. In comparison to other reference texts, the Handbook of Radiotherapy Physics is clear and also filled with many knowledgeable and useful observations and notes. … It is an excellent reference text and sits nicely on the shelf alongside your old copy of Williams and Thwaites."
—SCOPE, December 2009"… comprehensive reference … With contributions from renowned specialists, this book provides essential theoretical and practical knowledge to deliver safe and effective radiotherapy."
—Anticancer Research, 2009, Vol. 29"The editors have managed with great success to assemble the information submitted by the contributing authors and put it in a format that is concise, easy to read, and rich in content … it can serve as an excellent reference manual and resource."
—Niko Papanikolaou, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, Medical Physics, September 2008, Vol. 35, No. 9Praise for the second edition:
"This is the 2nd edition of the Handbook of Radiotherapy published in 2007. The book is organized into 11 parts, each dealing with a self-contained subject area including but not limited to Fundamentals, Radiobiology, Equipment, Dose Measurement, Treatment Planning, Quality Assurance, Therapy with Unsealed Sources, and Radiation Protection. An additional part has been included at the end of Vol.2, which provides tables of physical constants and radiation interaction data. This textbook is meant to be a comprehensive handbook practical radiotherapy knowledge for both medical that covers theoretical and physics trainees and practicing medical physicists. It provides a good overview of theoretical knowledge along with a practical description of concepts. In keeping with the original intent of the first edition, this book is intended primarily as course book for physicists in training but could also act as a reference book for practicing radiation physicists. It is a useful supplement to classic radiotherapy textbooks; concepts are introduced very well and extensive references are provided if the readers require a more in-depth review. The editors and authors have wide ranging medical physics experience across the UK, Europe, and U.S.
The text is very comprehensive, with sections covering classic topics in the field along with modern topics such as knowledge-based planning, artificial intelligence, and MR-guided linear accelerators. I especially appreciated the quality assurance (QA) part, which included chapters ranging from QA of treatment planning and treatment delivery to data communication with DICOM. Overall, this is a well-written handbook. Due to the extensive changes in the field of medical physics since 2007, this is a necessary and thoughtful update. The editors did a great job of assembling a huge amount of information. Given the breadth and scope of this text, along with the extensive bibliography, this handbook would be a great resource, especially for trainees and early career physicists."
—Katelyn Hasse (University of California, San Francisco), in Medical Physics, The International Journal of Medical Physics Research and Practice (July 2022)The treatment of cancer by ionizing radiation – radiotherapy (RT) – has undergone continuous development since the early years of the twentieth century. This book, in two volumes (each containing the contents and index of the complete work) represents a comprehensive updating of the first edition (published in 2007). High-quality RT outcomes depend on close collaboration by radiation oncologists, therapy radiographers (aka radiation technologists), dosimetrists, physicists and, not infrequently, RT equipment engineers. Whilst this book is primarily written by physicists for physicists, some of the material should be useful, even essential, to anyone whose work involves radiotherapy, including those who train such professionals.
The book is organised into eleven "parts", covering different topics, plus Part L – data tables – now including the stopping power and ranges of protons (up to 300 MeV kinetic energy) in elements, compounds and mixtures of medical interest. A total of 62 scientists – eminent specialists (from Europe, North America and elsewhere) – have produced the 61 chapters, including colleagues who did not contribute to the first edition. Parts A through C cover the fundamentals of the relevant physics, radiobiology and technology. Parts D through H give the practical information necessary for the support of external-beam RT: dose measurements, clinical beam properties, the computation of dose distributions in patient anatomy, treatment (aka dose) planning and quality assurance. RT delivered with radionuclides is described in Part I (brachytherapy) and Part J (unsealed sources aka "molecular radiotherapy"). Part K covers the radiation protection framework, with an emphasis on the legislation in the UK. We editors hope that our readers will learn as much from reading the book as we have by bringing the 2007 edition up to date.
May they be inspired to continue the development of the scientific and technical basis of radiotherapy for the benefit of cancer patients worldwide.
–Scope magazine, (December 2022)
