This book provides an overview of recent advances in radiation oncology, many of which have originated from physics and engineering sciences. The new technologies in this field have a complex physical, mathematical and technical background that technical assistants, dosimetrists, and physicians frequently find difficult to comprehend. However, this book is specifically designed to be readily understandable by professionals and students with a medical background as well as by newcomers to radiation oncology from the field of physics. All relevant areas of the subject are covered in detail, including 3D imaging and image processing, 3D treatment planning, modern treatment techniques, patient positioning, and aspects of verification and quality assurance.

New Technologies in Radio-Oncology: Introduction and Overview

Basics of 3D Medical Imaging: 3D Reconstruction
Processing and Segmentation of 3D Images
3D Visualization
Image Registration and Data Fusion for Radiotherapy Planning
Networking, Data Formats and Archieving
3D Imaging for Radiotherapy: Clinical X-Ray Computed Tomography
4D Imaging and Treatment Planning
MRI for Radiotherapy Planning
Potential of MRS for Radiotherapy Planning
PET and PET/CT for Radiotherapy Planning
Patient Positioning in Radiotherapy Using Optical Guided 3D-Ultrasound Techniques
3D Treatment Planning for Conformal Radiotherapy: External Therapy: Definition of Target Volumes and Organs at Risk
Virtual Therapy Simulation.-Dose Calculation Algorithms
Monte Carlo Dose Calculation for Treatment Planning.-Optimization of Treatment Plans, Inverse Planning
Biological Models in Treatment Planning
Brachytherapy Planning: 2D and 3D Planning in Brachytherapy
New Treatment Techniques: Beam Delivery in 3D Conformal X-Ray Therapy
Stereotactic Radiotherapy
X-IMRT
Control of Breathing Motion: Techniques and Models (Gated Radiotherapy)
Image-Guided/Adaptive Radiotherapy
Predictive Compensation of Breathing Motion in Lung Cancer Radiosurgery
Proton Therapy
Heavy Ion Therapy
Brachytherapy: Permanent Brachytherapy in Prostate Cancer
Vascular Brachytherapy
Partial Breast Brachytherapy After Conservative Surgery for Early Breast Cancer: Techniques and Results
Verification and QA: 3D QA Systems
QM in Radiotherapy
Subject Index
List of Contributors