1 New technologies in 3D conformal radiation therapy : introduction and overview 1
2 3D reconstruction 9
3 Processing and segmentation of 3D images 17
4 3D visualization 24
5 Image registration and data fusion for radiotherapy treatment planning 41
6 Data formats, networking, archiving, and telemedicine 53
7 Clinical X-ray computed tomography 67
8 4D imaging and treatment planning 81
9 Magnetic resonance imaging for radiotherapy planning 99
10 Potential of magnetic resonance spectroscopy for radiotherapy planning 113
11 PET and PET/CT for radiotherapy planning 131
12 Patient positioning in radiotherapy using optical guided 3D-ultrasound techniques 151
13 Definition of target volume and organs at risk : biological target volume 167
14 Virtual therapy simulation 179
15 Dose calculation algorithms 187
16 Monte Carlo dose calculation for treatment planning 197
17 Optimization of treatment plans, inverse planning 207
18 Biological models in treatment planning 221
19 2D and 3D planning in brachytherapy 237
20 Beam delivery in 3D conformal radiotherapy using multi-leaf collimators 257
21 Stereotactic radiotherapy/radiosurgery 267
22 Extracranial stereotactic radiation therapy 277
23 X-MRT 289
24 Control of breathing motion : techniques and models (gated radiotherapy) 299
25 Image-guided/adaptive radiotherapy 321
26 Predictive compensation of breathing motion in lung cancer radiosurgery 337
27 Proton therapy 345
28 Heavy ion radiotherapy 365
29 Permanent-implant brachytherapy in prostate cancer 379
30 Vascular brachytherapy 389
31 Partial breast brachytherapy after conservative surgery for early breast cancer : techniques and results 397
32 3D quality assurance (QA) systems 411
33 Quality management in radiotherapy 425
This book provides an overview of recent advances in radiation oncology, many of which have originated from physics and engineering sciences. After an introductory section on basic aspects of 3D medical imaging, the role of 3D imaging in the context of radiotherapy is explored in a series of chapters on the various modern imaging techniques. A further major section addresses 3D treatment planning for conformal radiotherapy, with consideration of both external radiotherapy and brachytherapy. Subsequently the modern techniques of 3D conformal radiotherapy are described, including stereotactic radiotherapy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy, image-guided and adaptive radiotherapy, and radiotherapy with charged particles. More clinically oriented chapters explore the use of brachytherapy in patients with prostate cancer, cardiovascular disorders and breast cancer. The book concludes with sections on patient positioning and quality assurance. The text is specifically designed to be accessible to professionals and students with a medical background as well as to newcomers to radiation oncology from the field of physics.