Course Director

Esther Troost, Radiation Oncologist , TU Dresden, Dresden (DE)

Teachers 

•    Stefan Delorme, Radiologist, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg (DE) 
•    Maria Antoinetta Gambacorta, Radiation Oncologist, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome (IT) 
•    Sarah Jefferies, Radiation Oncologist, Cambridge University Hospitals, Cambridge (UK) 
•    Martina Kunze-Busch, Physicist, UMC St Radboud Nijmegen (NL) 
•    Indira Madani, Radiation Oncologist, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich (CH) 
•    Verena Plodeck, Radiologist, TU Dresden, Dresden (DE) 
•    Peter Remeijer, Physicist, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam (NL) 
•    Pierfrancesco Franco, Radiation Oncologist, University of Turin (IT) 
•    Ben Vanneste, Radiation Oncologist, MAASTRO Clinic (NL)

This course aims to:

• Make understandable the principles and limitations of different imaging modalities utilised for target volume definition (TVD) such as ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET) 
• Present the need for TVD and planning nomenclatures for primary tumour, nodal regions and organs-at-risk 
• Explain treatment techniques such as IMRT and VMAT, image guided radiotherapy (IGRT), and the concept of adaptive radiotherapy 
• Provide appreciation for the limitations of current imaging modalities for TVD and review “state-of-the-art” imaging modalities for TVD 
• Explore the use of functional and molecular imaging in TVD for biological targets and their use in radiotherapy 
• Review the diagnostic imaging and therapy interface for image registration, deformation and verification as well as margin determination.

Learning Outcomes

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

• Have a comprehensive understanding of all parts of the planning process and also plan evaluation for intensity modulated radiotherapy (both stepand-shoot IMRT and VMAT)
• Increase accuracy as well as effectiveness in the planning process
• Understand the basis for comparing different plans for the same case
• Understand the problem of competing priorities in planning
• Appreciate the concept of plan optimisation.

Course Content

• Broadening the therapeutic band width
• Dose calculation algorithms and their differences in clinical impact
• Applying ICRU in treatment planning
• Non-IMRT planning – from simple to complex
• Relationships between 3D dose distributions and clinical toxicities, chest, head and neck, pelvis
• Rationale behind IMRT Practical guidelines for both step-and-shoot
• IMRT and VMAT planning
• Physical and biological optimisation
• Pareto fronts in clinical practice
• Geometric uncertainties and how to deal with them
• Molecular imaging in treatment planning
• Adaptive planning strategies
• Library planning, dose painting planning, robust and probabilistic planning.

TP Systems

Monaco, Pinnacle3, RayStation, Eclipse and TomoTherapy 

Prerequisites

Before commencing this course participants should:

• Have at least two years experience of radiotherapy planning
• Understand the ICRU definitions of GTV, CTV and PTV
• Understand the relationship between target dose and organs at risk.

Teaching Methods

• 19 hours of lectures
• 9 hours of practical workshops
• 4 hours of case discussions.

Methods of Assessment

• MCQ  
• Evaluation form.

Affiliations 

Programme

The scientific programme will be available soon.

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: