Because radiation is a central curative and palliative therapy for many patients, it is essential to have safe and efficient systems for planning and delivering radiation therapy. Factors such as rapid technological advances, financial reorganization, an aging population, and evolving societal expectations, however, may be compromising our ability

Because radiation is a central curative and palliative therapy for many patients, it is essential to have safe and efficient systems for planning and delivering radiation therapy. Factors such as rapid technological advances, financial reorganization, an aging population, and evolving societal expectations, however, may be compromising our ability

The first text to focus solely on quality and safety in radiotherapy, this work encompasses not only traditional, more technically oriented, quality assurance activities, but also general approaches of quality and safety. It includes contributions from experts both inside and outside the field to present a global view. The task of assuring quality

Quality and Safety in Radiation Oncology is the first book to provide an authoritative and evidence-based guide to the understanding and implementation of quality and safety procedures in radiation oncology practice. Alongside the rapid growth of technology and radiotherapy treatment options for cancer in recent years, quality and safety standards are not only of the utmost importance but best practices ensuring quality and safety are crucial aspect of modern radiation oncology training. A detailed exploration and review of these standards is a necessary part of radiation oncologist’s professional competency, both in the clinical setting and at the study table while preparing for board review and MOC exams. Chapter topics range from fundamental concepts of value and quality to commissioning technology and the use of metrics. They include perspectives on quality and safety from the patient, third-party payers, as well as from the federal government. Other chapters cover prospective testing of quality, training and education, error identification and analysis, incidence reporting, as well as special technology and procedures, including MRI-guided radiation therapy, proton therapy and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), quality and safety procedures in resource-limited environments, and more. State-of-the-art quality assurance procedures and safety guidelines are the backbone of this unique and essential volume. Physicians, medical physicists, dosimetrists, radiotherapists, hospital administrators, and other healthcare professionals will find this resource an invaluable compendium of best practices in radiation oncology. Key Features: Case examples illustrate best practices and pitfalls Several dozen graphs, tables and figures help quantify the discussion of quality and safety throughout the text Section II covers all aspects of quality assurance procedures for the physicist

Big Data in Radiation Oncology gives readers an in-depth look into how big data is having an impact on the clinical care of cancer patients. While basic principles and key analytical and processing techniques are introduced in the early chapters, the rest of the book turns to clinical applications, in particular for cancer registries, informatics, radiomics, radiogenomics, patient safety and quality of care, patient-reported outcomes, comparative effectiveness, treatment planning, and clinical decision-making. More features of the book are: Offers the first focused treatment of the role of big data in the clinic and its impact on radiation therapy. Covers applications in cancer registry, radiomics, patient safety, quality of care, treatment planning, decision making, and other key areas. Discusses the fundamental principles and techniques for processing and analysis of big data. Address the use of big data in cancer prevention, detection, prognosis, and management. Provides practical guidance on implementation for clinicians and other stakeholders. Dr. Jun Deng is a professor at the Department of Therapeutic Radiology of Yale University School of Medicine and an ABR board certified medical physicist at Yale-New Haven Hospital. He has received numerous honors and awards such as Fellow of Institute of Physics in 2004, AAPM Medical Physics Travel Grant in 2008, ASTRO IGRT Symposium Travel Grant in 2009, AAPM-IPEM Medical Physics Travel Grant in 2011, and Fellow of AAPM in 2013. Lei Xing, Ph.D., is the Jacob Haimson Professor of Medical Physics and Director of Medical Physics Division of Radiation Oncology Department at Stanford University. His research has been focused on inverse treatment planning, tomographic image reconstruction, CT, optical and PET imaging instrumentations, image guided interventions, nanomedicine, and applications of molecular imaging in radiation oncology. Dr. Xing is on the editorial boards of a number of journals in radiation physics and medical imaging, and is recipient of numerous awards, including the American Cancer Society Research Scholar Award, The Whitaker Foundation Grant Award, and a Max Planck Institute Fellowship.

Surface Guided Radiation Therapy provides a comprehensive overview of optical surface image guidance systems for radiation therapy. It serves as an introductory teaching resource for students and trainees, and a valuable reference for medical physicists, physicians, radiation therapists, and administrators who wish to incorporate surface guided radiation therapy (SGRT) into their clinical practice. This is the first book dedicated to the principles and practice of SGRT, featuring: Chapters authored by an internationally represented list of physicists, radiation oncologists and therapists, edited by pioneers and experts in SGRT Covering the evolution of localization systems and their role in quality and safety, current SGRT systems, practical guides to commissioning and quality assurance, clinical applications by anatomic site, and emerging topics including skin mark-less setups. Several dedicated chapters on SGRT for intracranial radiosurgery and breast, covering technical aspects, risk assessment and outcomes. Jeremy Hoisak, PhD, DABR is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences at the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Hoisak’s clinical expertise includes radiosurgery and respiratory motion management. Adam Paxton, PhD, DABR is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Utah. Dr. Paxton’s clinical expertise includes patient safety, motion management, radiosurgery, and proton therapy. Benjamin Waghorn, PhD, DABR is the Director of Clinical Physics at Vision RT. Dr. Waghorn’s research interests include intensity modulated radiation therapy, motion management, and surface image guidance systems. Todd Pawlicki, PhD, DABR, FAAPM, FASTRO, is Professor and Vice-Chair for Medical Physics in the Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences at the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Pawlicki has published extensively on quality and safety in radiation therapy. He has served on the Board of Directors for the American Society for Radiology Oncology (ASTRO) and the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM).

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has emerged as an important innovative treatment for various primary and metastatic cancers. This book provides a comprehensive and up-to-date account of the physical/technological, biological, and clinical aspects of SBRT. It will serve as a detailed resource for this rapidly developing treatment modality. The organ sites covered include lung, liver, spine, pancreas, prostate, adrenal, head and neck, and female reproductive tract. Retrospective studies and prospective clinical trials on SBRT for various organ sites from around the world are examined, and toxicities and normal tissue constraints are discussed. This book features unique insights from world-renowned experts in SBRT from North America, Asia, and Europe. It will be necessary reading for radiation oncologists, radiation oncology residents and fellows, medical physicists, medical physics residents, medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, and cancer scientists.