Programme

Overview: This symposium will focus on dose accumulation challenges and methodologies in brachytherapy. The discussion will cover dose summation approaches in combined brachytherapy and external beam radiotherapy, highlighting both clinical and research scenarios. Key aspects of image registration will be described, including different registration methods, their impact on dose summation accuracy, and considerations on quality assurance in brachytherapy. Finally, the session will address cumulative dose assessment in skin cancer applications, exploring the challenges of dose accumulation and the role of deformable image registration in improving accuracy in dose assessments.

Overview: In radiation oncology, treatment decisions require balancing therapeutic efficacy with the risk of toxicity. Normal Tissue Complication Probability (NTCP) models offer a quantitative framework for estimating treatment-related side effects, potentially enabling safer, more personalized care. However, whether they should take the lead in clinical decision-making remains a matter of debate. Arguing for the motion, Markus Alber and Hans Langendijk will advocate for NTCP models as essential tools for guiding patient management. Opposing them, Tiziana Rancati and Ivan Vogelius will highlight model limitations and question their reliability. The stage is set for a compelling debate—but who has the stronger arguments? That’s for you, the audience, to decide!