Intravascular Brachytherapy Physics (Reprinted from Medical Physics, Vol. 26, Issue 2)
Author: Radiation Therapy Committee Task Group #60ISBN: 9781888340235 ISBN10: 1930524102
Published: 1999 | 34 pp. |
OUT OF PRINT
Interactions | January 2003
"The organizers of the 2002 APM Summer School had the difficult task of combining two loosely related subjects into a single venue: intravascular brachytherapy (IVBT), generally of greater interest to therapy physicists, and fluoroscopically guided interventional radiology, a diagnostic topic. The result was a summer school schedule with joint sessions for the first half of the lectures, followed by separate sessions specializing in either subject. AAPM monograph No. 28, the proceedings from the summer school, reflects this arrangement, with common topics covered first and followed by separate discussions of both areas.
"The book begins with a well-written introduction summarizing the issues affecting both disciplines. Radiation biology for both IVBT and interventional radiology is then discussed followed by a review of quantitative methods in coronary angiography and intravascular ultrasound. An interesting chapter follows on the unresolved issues surrounding IVBT including late thrombosis and the edge effect. Two chapters are devoted to a thorough review of clinical techniques for interventional cardiology and interventional radiology and an additional two deal with radiation safety, separately covering issues related to staff and patient protection. The final chapters of the joint sessions address regulatory issues, and although these deal exclusively with US regulations, some of the issues raised may be applicable in Canada as well.
"The subject then shifts to IVBT with chapters dedicated to the physics of radioisotope production and photon and electron emitters used in IVBT devices. Dosimetry of IVBT sources is discussed in three chapters, the first dedicated to measurements and the TG 43/60 protocol formalism, the second to Monte Carlo modeling and the third to source calibration. Operational IVBT programs are reviewed along with radiation safety issues, and treatment planning is addressed in a separate chapter. Quality management and the role of the physicist in an IVBT program round up the subjects covered. The final third of the book discusses fluoroscopically guided interventions. Imaging detectors, image display systems and picture archiving systems are first described. Skin exposure estimation and pediatric interventional radiology are then addressed in dedicated chapters. The final chapters of the book discuss purchasing and acceptance testing of interventional radiology equipment, training of personnel and accrediting of programs.
"Overall, this is an information rich monograph, with many areas covered in great detail. It serves as an excellent introduction to both the diagnostic and therapy components of the subject, and is an excellent read for both physicists wanting to learn more on either field as well as radiology or radiation oncology practitioners wanting to brush up on some of the physics. Several chapters, such as those dealing with radioisotope production, picture archiving systems, and radiation safety would make excellent course notes in medical physics courses for their respective topics. I doubt, however, that this book is intended for physicists who are involved in research on these subjects as the level is generally introductory. That aside, my compliments go to the editors who have done a superb job of joining these two topics into a solid book."
Horacio J. Patrocinio
McGill University Health Centre
Montreal, Quebec