As the focus is on clinical application, the teachers’ team consists of both radiation oncologists (50%) and medical physicists (50%). 

Course Director 

• Eduard Gershkevitsh, Chief medical physicist at North Estonia Medical Centre, Tallinn, (EE)

Teachers 

• Silvia Molinelli, Medical Physicist, Fondazione CNAO, Pavia (IT)
• Shaista Hafeez, Clinical Oncologist, Royal Marsden NHS Trust and The Institute of Cancer Research, Marsden (UK) 
• Tom Depuydt, Medical Physicist, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven (BE) 
• Michael Gubanski, Radiation Oncologist, Karolinska University Hospital – Sodersjukhuset, Stockholm (SE)
• Milan Tomseij, Medical Physicist, CHU Charleroi, Hôpital André Vésale, Montigny-le-Tilleul (BE)
• Stephanie Peeters, Radiation Oncologist, Maastro Clinic, Maastricht (NL)
• Louise Murray, Yorkshire Cancer Research University Clinical Academic Fellow and Honorary Consultant Clinical Oncologist, Leeds Cancer Centre and University of Leeds (UK)

Local Organiser 

• Marin Bodale, Vice-President of Romanian College of Medical Physicists (CFMR), Iasi (RO)

The lectures aim to: 

• Provide knowledge and understanding of physics relevant to modern clinical radiotherapy 
• Provide comprehensive overviews of imaging and volume concepts in radiotherapy 
• Discuss modern dose delivery techniques, such as IMRT, rotational therapy (VMAT, helical tomotherapy), S(B)RT, IGRT, adaptive therapy (ART), particle therapy and brachytherapy 
• Discuss safety issues in lectures on commissioning and QA/QC, radiation protection, in vivo dosimetry and induction of secondary tumours.

Complimentary to the lectures, this course has clinical case discussions as an important component. The case discussions aim at teaching physics by practical application in treatment planning.

Learning Outcomes

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

• Discuss and select modern treatment techniques based on their pros and cons
• Select physics and technical measures that enhance effective and safe application of radiation therapy.

Course Content

1. Lectures on:

• IMRT/VMAT - physics aspects, clinical application and impact

• Stereotactic radiotherapy (cranial and extra-cranial)

• Rotational therapy (VMAT, helical tomotherapy)  

• Particle therapy (electrons, protons, ions)

• Volumes in external beam radiotherapy

• Imaging for GTV definition

• Imaging for treatment preparation and planning

• PTV margin calculation

• IGRT (equipment for in-room imaging, set-up correction strategies, clinical examples)

• Adaptive radiotherapy

• Dose prescription and plan evaluation

• Field junctions (how, when, and alternatives)

• Commissioning and Quality Assurance/Control of equipment and software

• Brachytherapy

• Radiobiology in the clinic

• Implementing patient-specific dosimetric QA

• Radiation Protection and risk analysis

• Induction of secondary tumours 

Specific for clinicians:

• Basic radiation physics

• Dose calculation: principles and application in the TPS  

• Radiotherapy equipment

• Physics of advanced radiotherapy.

Specific for physicists:

• Reference and non-reference dosimetry

• Modern dose calculation algorithms

• QA for advanced delivery techniques

• Oncologic concepts.

2. Clinical case discussions:

The participants are invited to prepare treatment plans for selected clinical cases (homework), based on case descriptions and CT scans as provided prior to the course. During the course, the plans are discussed in small groups regarding selected treatment techniques, planning solutions, constraints and objectives, choice of margins, protocols for image guidance, QA, etc. and are guided by a clinician and physicist teacher.

Prerequisites

The participants are invited to prepare the homework for the clinical case discussions (above).

Teaching Methods

• 21 plenary lectures

• 5 lectures targeted at clinicians

• 5 lectures targeted at physicists

• 3 clinical case discussion sessions in small groups.

Methods of Assessment

• Entry and exit exam

• Evaluation form.

Affiliations

Programme

The scientific programme will be available soon.

Key Words

• Physics and technology in radiotherapy
• Modern treatment techniques

Accreditation

Application for CME recognition will be submitted to the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME), an institution of the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS). EACCME credits are recognized by the American Medical Association towards the Physician’s Recognition Award (PRA). Information on the status of the applications can be obtained from the ESTRO office.

Application for CDP credits has been submitted to the European Board for Accreditation in Medical Physics (EBAMP). Information on the status of the application can be obtained from the ESTRO office.

Venue

To follow

Membership

ESTRO members can order products at substantially reduced prices. Please note that in order to benefit from the member price, you must renew your membership for 2021 before registering to the course.To benefit from these member rates, please visit the membership page to become a member or renew your membership BEFORE proceeding with your order.

Fees

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

Early rates are applied up to three months before the starting date of the course.

Late rates are applied three months before the starting date of the course.

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

Advance registration & payment are required.

Since the number of participants is limited, late registrants are advised to contact the ESTRO office before payment, to inquire about availability of places. Access to homework and/or course material will become available upon receipt of full payment.

Insurance and cancellation

The organiser does not accept liability for individual medical, travel or personal insurance. Participants are strongly advised to take out their own personal insurance policies.   

In case an unforeseen event would force ESTRO to cancel the meeting, the Society will reimburse the participants fully the registration fees. ESTRO will not be responsible for the refund of travel and accommodation costs.

In case of cancellation, full refund of the registration fee minus 15% for administrative costs may be obtained up to three months before the course and 50% of the fee up to one month before the course. No refund will be made if the cancellation request is postmarked less than one month before the start of the course.

Reduced fees

ESTRO members from economically challenged countries may register at a preferential rate of 350 Euro if three conditions are met:

1. Only ESTRO members for 2021 are eligible (please make sure your 2021 membership is in order before you apply for the reduced fees)
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: