The Physics & Technology of Radiation Therapy

2nd Edition

Patrick N. McDermott, Colin G. Orton

• Publisher: Medical Physics Publishing
• Year: 2018
• Print ISBN: 9781930524989
• eBook ISBN: 9781930524996

It's no wonder more and more colleges are adopting The Physics & Technology of Radiation Therapy for their radiology and medical physics programs. Radiation therapy is a difficult subject to understand and teach, so it helps to have a book written by two renowned experts who have explained the field's tough concepts to students for many years with the perfect mix of depth, insight, and humor. The critics agree. From Thomas Lowinger in IOMP Journal... "This is an excellent book; the presentation of the book diagrams, figures, pictures (many in color), and selection of problems are clear and logical and make this book a classic. It is evident that the authors have taught this subject for a long time and were able to distill and explain concepts in a clear and interesting way. The authors have written a spellbinding textbook that belongs on the bookshelf of every medical physicist, both as a reference and as guide. …it surely belongs in the pantheon of great medical physics textbooks. I wish I had this book when I was a student." From Joseph P. Driewer in JACMP... "The 2nd edition of The Physics & Technology of Radiation Therapy by McDermott and Orton is an accessible textbook for radiation therapists, medical dosimetrists, and radiation oncology residents. It could be a great primary text for a first course in radiation therapy physics as well as a great study resource for board exams in these areas." The 2nd edition has been guided by the 2018 ASTRO core curriculum for radiation oncology residents. Novice physicists will find the book useful when studying for board exams, with helpful chapter summaries, appendices, and extra end-of-chapter problems and questions. It features new material on digital x-ray imaging, neutron survey meters, flattening-filter free and x-band linacs, biological dose indices, electronic brachytherapy, OSLD, Cerenkov radiation, FMEA, total body irradiation, proton therapy, and more. Also included: Updated graphics in full color for increased understanding. Appendices on board certifications in radiation therapy for ABR, AART, and Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board. Dosimetry Data. A full index.

Table of contents

• CHAPTER 1: Mathematics Review
• CHAPTER 2: Review of Basic Physics
• CHAPTER 3: Atomic Nuclei and Radioactivity
• CHAPTER 4: X-ray Production I: Technology
• CHAPTER 5: X-ray Production II: Basic Physics and Properties of Resulting X-rays
• CHAPTER 6: The Interaction of Radiation with Matter
• CHAPTER 7: Radiation Quantities
• CHAPTER 8: Radiation Detection and Measurement
• CHAPTER 9: Medical Linear Accelerators
• CHAPTER 10: Central Axis Dose Distribution
• CHAPTER 11: Calibration of Megavoltage Photon Beams
• CHAPTER 12: Monitor Unit Calculations
• CHAPTER 13: Dose Distributions in Two and Three Dimensions
• CHAPTER 14: Evaluation of Patient Dose Distributions
• CHAPTER 15: Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy
• CHAPTER 16: Electron Beam Dosimetry
• CHAPTER 17: Physical Principles of Brachytherapy
• CHAPTER 18: Radiation Protection
• CHAPTER 19: Imaging in Radiation Therapy
• CHAPTER 20: Special Modalities in Radiation Therapy
• CHAPTER 21: Physical Quality Assurance and Safety
• CHAPTER 22: Proton Therapy Physics
• Appendix A: Board Certification Exams in Radiation Therapy
• Appendix B: Dosimetry Data
• Appendix C: Mevalac Beam Data
• Appendix D: Answers to Selected Problems
• Index
• Errata History