The target audience for this course are RTTs and other radiotherapy professionals who wish to enhance and further their knowledge and practical skills in patient positioning and immobilisation for conventional and advanced radiation therapy techniques. Participants will gain the theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary to effectively position and immobilize patients for a range of treatment sites. The course also addresses the implementation of a new immobilization device as well as the performance assessment of an existing device.

The course aims to provide:

• Knowledge of the impact patient immobilisation and positioning has on the radiation therapy process and treatment outcomes
• Practical experience of constructing and using immobilisation devices for a range of disease site and treatment techniques
• Exchange of knowledge and experience on patient positioning and immobilisation with the participants through an online forum and a practical weekend.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course participants should be able to:

• Discuss the need for accurate and precise patient immobilisation and positioning in radiation therapy
• Evaluate the impact of positioning and immobilisation on margins required for adequate dose delivery
• Construct and optimally use immobilisation devices for a range of anatomical sites
• Solve difficult cases where conventional immobilisation devices may not be appropriate. 
• Compare and evaluate the efficacy of immobilisation devices/positions 
• Evaluate positioning and immobilisation procedures in the context of radiation therapy risk management.

COURSE CONTENT

The course will cover the following topics:

• Fundamental principles of positioning and immobilisation
• Positioning errors on margins
• Risk management associated with positioning and immobilisation
• Impact of positioning and immobilisation on:
  • Treatment planning
  • Treatment verification
  • Clinical outcomes
• Techniques for immobilising patients for:
  • A range of anatomical areas
  • Advanced radiation therapy delivery techniques

• Case-based discussions

COURSE DESIGN

The course will take place over a 6 weeks period and will be delivered using a blended learning approach, i.e. a combination of recorded online seminars, live teleconferencing and face-to-face teaching:

• The theoretical components will be delivered using the ESTRO Moodle, the ESTRO Virtual Learning Environment, where recorded seminars will be available for participants to join at a time that suits them.
• Additionally, live teleconference tutorials will also take place to provide participants with the opportunity to discuss their learning to date with the teachers and peers.
• The face-to-face component of the course will occur over a two-day period at the Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia

For the updated calendars please consult the ESTRO website page of this course.

TEACHING METHODS

• 6 hours of online lectures
• 3 hours of online individual/group activities
• 3 hours of live teleconference tutorials
• 1 practical weekend with workshops

METHODS OF ASSESSMENT

• MCQ
• Evaluation form

KEY WORDS

• Positioning
• Immobilisation
• Margins
• Reproducibility
• Radiation Therapy

COURSE DIRECTOR

• Sophie Perryck, Radiation Therapist, University Hospital Zurich (CH)

TEACHERS

• Luca Boldrini, Radiation Oncologist, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome (IT)
• Sophie Boisbouvier, Radiation Therapist, Centre Léon Bérard (FR)
• Giulia McCorkell, Radiation Therapist, RMIT University, Melbourne (AU)
• Claudio Votta, Radiation Therapist, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Rome (IT)
• Sharon Wong Mei Mei (SWMM), Radiation Therapist, National Cancer Centre Singapore (SG)

Guest Online Lecturer

• Irena Dragojevic, Medical Physicist, University of California, San Diego (US)
• Lotte Fog, Medical Physicist, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne (AU)
• Laura Mullaney, Radiation Therapist, University College Dublin (IE)
• Todd Pawlicki, Medical Physicist, University of California, San Diego (US)

LOCAL ORGANISERS

• Ilija Curic, Radiation Therapist, University Clinical Center Serbia
• Jovan Stevanovic, Radiation Therapist, Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia
• Suzana Stojanovic Rundic, Radiation Oncologist, Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia

The scientific programme will be available in spring

Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia

Pasterova 14

Belgrade

Serbia

Application for CME recognition will be submitted to The Accreditation Council of Oncology in Europe (ACOE). ACOE is one of the four of the European Specialty Accreditation Boards (ESABs) recognised by UEMS. CME credits are recognised by the American Medical Association towards the Physician’s Recognition Award (PRA).

Membership

ESTRO members can order products at substantially reduced prices. To benefit from the member registration rate, you must subscribe for the ESTRO membership 2026 BEFORE registering to the course. To become an ESTRO member, benefit from the member registration rate and discover the many other member advantages, please visit the membership page.

Fees:  EARLY RATE FOR THIS COURSE EXPIRES 2 MONTHS BEFORE THE ONLINE SESSIONS BEGINS (23 JUNE 2026)

* Members with specialty RadiationTherapist (RTT) may register at the In-Training fee

The fee includes the course material, coffees, lunches, and the social event.

Advance registration & payment are required.

Access to homework and/or course material will become available upon receipt of full payment.

Insurance and cancellation

Participants are strongly advised to take out their own personal insurance policy. ESTRO does not accept liability for individual medical, travel or personal accidents or incidents. Participants are strongly advised to take insurance policies to cover flight and accommodation cancellation penalties. ESTRO will not refund any travel or accommodation expenses.

For any cancellation made by the course participant, ESTRO School Events Cancellation Policy will be followed and all stated penalty fees will be applied.

Reduced fees

Members from emerging countries may register at a preferential rate of 350 Euro. Emerging country fee applies to individuals from low-income and lower-middle-income economies according to the World Bank listing here.

Additionally, all specialties from the following countries can benefit from this preferential rate: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Hungary, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine.  In addition, medical physicists from Cyprus can email education@estro.org to apply for this fee.

The preferential rate of 350 Euro is granted automatically when you click on the  BOOK NOW  button and the three conditions below are met:

1. Only ESTRO members for 2026 are eligible (please make sure your 2026 membership is in order before you click on the BOOK NOW  button)
2. Only one course per person per year can be subsidized by ESTRO
3. Sponsored candidates are not entitled to reduced fees (the invoicing address has to be the one of the participant)  

 Please note:

• We can only guarantee a certain number of reduced fees per course
• Application deadlines are the same as early registration fees