IMRT for Radiation Therapists Overview
The transition from 2D to 3D to IMRT for radiation therapists is a crucial point in the development of a high-quality IMRT program. Ensuring safe, proper, and consistent methods for treatment setups, patient positioning, and image verification is essential. It is the first step needed to ensure that treatment contours and plans are being applied correctly to patients as intended.
In light of this challenging transition, Rayos Contra Cancer and the ASTRO International Education Subcommittee have developed a 15-session curriculum that spans 3-4 months to provide longitudinal support for clinics undergoing such a transition in their radiation therapist program. Each session is approximately 1 hour long, on Zoom, and will be conducted in Spanish. Attendance of 70% or more of sessions and completion of 100% of assignments (e.g. enrollment forms, evaluations, and case-based learning assignments) is required for each individual’s Certificate of Participation.
At the bottom of this page is a detailed outline of the course. Each session will also have opportunities for any participants to ask questions and to maintain connection with a professional radiation therapist educator through Rayos Contra Cancer’s volunteer network.
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Lead Educator: Maria Dimopoulos, MBA, RT(T)
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Supporting Educators: 12
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Sessions: 15
Videos coming soon
1. Introduction to Radiation Therapy (1 session)
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Cancer explained
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Etiology, epidemiology
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Radiation physics
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EBRT & the linac
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Beam modifiers
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Patient positioning, field orientation
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Treatment workflow
2. Radiobiology (1 session)
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Interaction of radiation and matter
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Linear Energy Transfer (LET)
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Relative Biological Effectiveness (RBE)
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Cellular response to radiation
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Cell survival curves
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Effects of radiation
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Goal of radiation therapy
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Resource: Washington & Leaver Principles and Practice of Radiation Therapy Chapter 4
3. Treatment Delivery Equipment & Modality (1 session)
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Equipment
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Linear accelerator components
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Shaping the beam
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Beam modifiers (MLC, wedge, block, cutout, bolus)
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3D v. IMRT v. VMAT v. SBRT
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Resource: Washington & Leaver Principles and Practice of Radiation Therapy Chapter 7 & 8
4. Physics Review & Radiation Safety (1 session)
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Radiation units
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Photon interactions
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Foundations (time, distance, shielding)
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ALARA
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Personal monitoring
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Safety devices
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Dosimetry: field orientation, plan, DVH, QA
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Resource: Washington & Leaver Principles and Practice of Radiation Therapy Chapter 13, 17, 24
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5. The Patient Chart (1 session)
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Consent
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Prescription
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Treatment notes
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Chart checks
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Setup instructions
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Resource: Washington & Leaver Principles and Practice of Radiation Therapy Chapter 2 & 8
6. Treatment Setups (1 session)
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Setup instructions
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SSD v. SAD
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Patient positioning
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Triangulation
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Biangulation
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Treatment workflow
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Resource: Washington & Leaver Principles and Practice of Radiation Therapy Chapter 8
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7. Imaging & Anatomy Review (1 session)
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Anatomy systems review
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Bony anatomy review
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MV
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KV
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CBCT
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Resource: Washington & Leaver Principles and Practice of Radiation Therapy Chapter 6 & 20
8. The status and perspective of radiotherapy from the Radiation Therapist’s (Técnologo Médico) perspective in Each Country (1 session)
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Argentina
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Bolivia
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Colombia
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Guatemala
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Peru
9. (Midterm) Live Questions & Answers Session (1 session)
10. Case-based learning: Video submissions of sample patient set-ups (by participating sites) with real-time educator feedback (1 – 2 sessions)
11. Case-based learning: On-board imaging examples, MV (1 session)
12. Case-based learning: On-board imaging examples, KV (1 session)
13. Case-based learning: On-board imaging examples: CBCT (1 session)
14. (Final) Exam and review of answers (1 session)
15. Curriculum Conclusion, Feedback, and Conversations for future directions (1 session)