LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of this course participants should be able to:
Learning outcomes
By the end of this course participants should be able to:
• Understand the rationale of 3D and apply concepts of advanced brachytherapy techniques in clinical practice
• Understand and apply ICRU 89 concepts: GTV, CTV, PTV at diagnosis and at time of brachytherapy for 2D and 3D brachytherapy
Perform contouring and treatment planning for 3D image guided EBRT and brachytherapy in clinical practice
• Implement procedures for 3D image guided brachytherapy in cervical cancer in own department
• Implement advanced EBRT techniques in cervical cancer in own department.
COURSE CONTENT
- Normal and pathologic anatomy of female pelvis
- Image based anatomy including US, CT, MRI and conventional radiography at diagnosis and at BT
- CTV/ITV/PTV for external irradiation
- IMRT/VMAT, IGRT and treatment planning for external irradiation
- Combination of external irradiation and brachytherapy
- Dose, dose-rate and fractionation and overall treatment time
- Radiobiological effects from combined external irradiation and brachytherapy, linear quadratic model
- Prescribing, recording and reporting including ICRU- GEC-ESTRO 89 recommendations
- Therapeutic outcome: radio-chemotherapy, image based EBRT and brachytherapy
- Introduction to EMBRACE studies
- Commissioning and Quality Assurance of various processes involved 3D brachytherapy treatment planning.
- Feedback and review of hurdles in implementation
- Workshops with hands-on contouring and treatment planning
PREREQUISITES
Before commencing this course participants should have:
- Basic knowledge of principles and experience with multi-modality management of cervical cancer
- Basic knowledge of and experience with radiological patho-anatomy relevant to cervical cancer
- Experience with existing external beam and brachytherapy workflows and processes in cervical cancer.
- Basic infrastructure in your department which facilitates post-course implementation of 3D image guided brachytherapy (afterloader, access to volumetric imaging, MRI/CT compatible applicators, and treatment planning system).
TEACHING METHODS
- Lectures / tutorials: 16 hours
- Practical workshop: 8 hours
- Applicators commissioning and reconstruction: 6 hours – Physicists
- Video presentations: 2 hours - Clinicians
Description: The tutorials include discussions of basics, evidence-based treatments, contouring guidelines, various processes involved in advanced EBRT and brachytherapy techniques and quality assurance. The practical hands on demonstration covers a direct learning process involved in approach, brachytherapy techniques, contouring exercises, evaluation and discussions on 3D radiotherapy.
METHODS OF ASSESSMENT
Contouring (FALCON tool) and dose planning exercises (pre- and post-course homework)
- Interactive feedback through audience voting on specific questions during lectures
- MCQ (interactive session at the end of the course)
- ESTRO teaching course evaluation form.
- Exclusive feedback sessions for “Experienced track” participants