RDTH 232 - Radiation Therapy Physics

1. Define and compare radioactivity, decay constant, activity and half-life.
2. Differentiate between artificially produced and naturally occurring therapeutic nuclides.
3. Examine the radioactive series and the decay schemes for commonly used radiation therapy nuclides.
4. Differentiate between the commonly used radiation therapy nuclides.
5. Explain the various forms of radioactive equilibrium.
6. Calculate rate of decay, change in activity, average life and attenuation requirements for a given isotope.
7. Discuss the activation of nuclides in terms of yield, probability, activity growth and saturation activity.
8. Describe methods of artificial production of radionuclides and their use in medical applications.
9. Describe the energy ranges and characteristics of the various radiation therapy modalities (Grenz-ray through megavoltage).
10. Explain major influencing factors of photon beam attenuation.
11. Describe the parameters of narrow beam geometry used in the measurement of attenuation.
12. Plot hyperenergetic and monoenergetic beam attenuation data.
13. Calculate half value layer (HVL).
14. Explain the purpose of homogeneity coefficient.
15. Calculate attenuation requirements for beam modification devices.
16. Discuss activation of clinical accessories and alternate shielding materials due to photodisintegration.
17. Explain charged particle interactions with matter, describing dose deposition, energy loss and shielding requirements.
18. Define mass stopping power.
19. Describe a Bragg curve.
20. Discuss the purpose and importance of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
21. Discuss the purpose and importance of the Accredited Dosimetry Calibration Labs (ADCL).
22. Choose the appropriate type of radiation detector for given clinical applications.
23. Explain how correction factors for chamber calibration, temperature, pressure and other factors are used to correct a chamber reading.
24. Describe the quality of a gamma-ray (γ) beam in terms of HVL, γ energy or mean γ energy/nuclide of origin.
25. Describe beam filtration for the various external beam modalities, including but not limited to purpose, types of filters and their construction, energy considerations, inherent vs. added filtration and effect on HVL.
26. Calculate the approximate mean energy of a megavoltage beam.
27. Compare absorbed dose vs. exposure.
28. Discuss the relationship between kinetic energy released in the medium (KERMA), exposure and absorbed dose.
29. Calculate air dose to absorbed dose conversions in tissue, including but not limited to energy considerations, applicable conversion factors, necessary instrumentation and methods.

• Structure of matter
• Interactions with ionizing matter
• Nuclear transformations
• Measurement of ionizing radiation
• Production of x-rays
• Measurement of absorbed dose
• Clinical radiation generators
• Dose distribution and scatter analysis
• Radiation dosimetry concepts

 
Course Addendum - Syllabus (Click to expand)