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Who is responsible for overseeing the work of a dosimetrist?
Who is responsible for overseeing the work of a dosimetrist?
What is a major responsibility of a Radiation Therapist?
What is a major responsibility of a Radiation Therapist?
What is the role of a Medical Dosimetrist in radiation oncology?
What is the role of a Medical Dosimetrist in radiation oncology?
Who helps evaluate patients before treatment begins?
Who helps evaluate patients before treatment begins?
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What is a major responsibility of a Social Worker in radiation oncology?
What is a major responsibility of a Social Worker in radiation oncology?
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What is the main role of a Radiation Oncologist?
What is the main role of a Radiation Oncologist?
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What is the role of a Radiation Therapist in radiation oncology?
What is the role of a Radiation Therapist in radiation oncology?
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Who is responsible for ensuring equipment is working properly?
Who is responsible for ensuring equipment is working properly?
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What is a key responsibility of a Medical Dosimetrist?
What is a key responsibility of a Medical Dosimetrist?
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Who may talk to patients about potential side effects of radiation therapy?
Who may talk to patients about potential side effects of radiation therapy?
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Study Notes
Introduction to Radiotherapy Techniques
- The Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Imaging aims to be nationally outstanding in the discipline of diagnostic radiology and imaging for the best treatment prescription and prognosis.
Course Content
- Introduction to radiotherapy and types of radiation used in radiotherapy
- Radiotherapy equipment and utilization
- Physics and main accessories used in radiotherapy
- Radiotherapy plan (clinical, physical, and technical)
- Staging of cancer patients
- Techniques and planning of cancer patients
- Selective cases: Head and neck tumours, Chest, Female Breast, Uterus and Cervix, Ovary, and testicular tumour
- Emergency in radiotherapy
- Advanced radiotherapy techniques: Brachytherapy, Gamma Knife, and IMRT
Objectives
- Know the types of radiation used in therapy
- Define radiation therapy and radiotherapy technique
- Describe the team of radiation therapy
Introduction to Radiotherapy
- Radiation therapy: medical use of ionizing radiation to control or kill malignant cells directly or indirectly
- Types of radiation for treatment: Photons beam (x-ray and gamma ray), Particles (Electron, protons, neutron, alpha..)
- Sources of radiation for treatment: Linear accelerators, Radioactive sources (Co-60 teletherapy unit, Cs-137 teletherapy unit, Brachytherapy units, Sr-90, Xenon, Iridium)
Definition of Radiotherapy
- Radiation therapy is the medical use of ionizing radiation to manage malignant/benign tissues
Radiotherapy Technique
- Procedure to implement radiotherapy plan (Clinical, physical, and technical) for malignant/benign tissue patients, considering anatomy, physiology, and patient position
Goals/Aims of Radiotherapy
- Radical treatment
- Palliative treatment
- Adjuvant therapy
- Enhancing the chance of operation
Types of Radiation Therapy
- External beam (Teletherapy)
- Internal irradiation (Brachytherapy): Intra-cavitary, Interstitial, Surface molds, Inhalation
Mechanism of Radiation Therapy
- Damaging DNA of cancerous cells through direct ionization or indirect ionization
- High-energy radiation directed to area of interest, forming free radicals that damage DNA and cause cell death and tissue injury
Photon Therapy
- Free radicals cause single-strand DNA damage (cell repair) or double-stranded DNA (cell death)
Radical Treatment
- Radical radiotherapy is treatment delivered with the intention to produce a high rate of local tumour control
- Most radical treatments are given over 4-6 weeks, in 1.8-2 Gray fraction/day to a total dose of 55-74Gy
Combination Treatment
- Radiation therapy may be used alone or in combination with other treatments: Surgery, Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy
Palliative Treatment
- Palliative radiotherapy is given over a shorter period of time with larger fraction of dose but in single dose or short period
- Treatment may be given as a single fraction or short fractions: 8-10 Gy or 20 Gray /5 fractions, 30Gy /10 fractions
Advantages of RT
- Allows for loco-regional treatment of cancer without direct removal of organs/tissues
- Can allow for organ preservation
- Better cosmesis
- Less restricted by pre-existing medical conditions
Disadvantages
- Almost impossible to avoid some damage to normal tissues
- May involve multiple daily treatments over several weeks, especially for curative treatment
- Psychological aspects of “not removing” cancer
Limitations of Radiotherapy
- Immediate relief of symptom or pain does not occur
- Significant improvement may require a couple of weeks or more after radiotherapy
- Etiology of the symptoms needs to be clear before giving radiation
- Diffuse/extensive involvement of critical organs by cancer not treatable
Teamwork of Radiotherapy
- Radiation Oncologist
- Medical Radiation Physicists
- Radiation Therapist
- Medical Dosimetrist
- Radiation Oncology Nurses
- Social Workers
- Dieticians
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Description
Introduction to Radiotherapy Techniques, covering RTT and terms, part of diagnostic radiology and imaging education.
