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TU‐E‐116‐01: Clinical Implementation for Advanced Brachytherapy Dose Calculation Algorithms Beyond the TG‐43 Formalism
Author(s) -
Thomson R,
Ballester F,
Beaulieu L
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
medical physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.473
H-Index - 180
eISSN - 2473-4209
pISSN - 0094-2405
DOI - 10.1118/1.4815442
Subject(s) - brachytherapy , dosimetry , medical physics , radiation treatment planning , computer science , algorithm , clinical practice , flowchart , formalism (music) , medicine , nuclear medicine , radiology , radiation therapy , art , musical , family medicine , visual arts , programming language
With the recent introduction of heterogeneity correction algorithms for brachytherapy, the AAPM community is still unclear on how to commission and implement these into clinical practice. The recently‐published AAPM TG‐186 report discusses important issues for clinical implementation of these algorithms. In this practical medical physics course, specific examples on how to perform the commissioning process are presented, as well as descriptions of the clinical impact from recent literature reporting comparisons of TG‐43 and heterogeneity‐based dosimetry. A proposed commissioning flowchart will be discussed, guiding the audience through the clinical process. Further, QA tests specific to these new heterogeneity correction algorithms for brachytherapy will be explained. Potential changes in brachytherapy dose prescriptions will be discussed, with pitfalls identified to minimize likelihood for errors. Learning Objectives: 1. Identify key clinical applications needing advanced dose calculation in brachytherapy. 2. Review TG‐186 guidelines, commission process, and dosimetry benchmarks. 3. Evaluate clinical cases using a commercially available system and compare to TG‐43 dosimetry