Adaptive Radiation Therapy Imaging in Medical Diagnosis and Therapy Series

Modern medical imaging and radiation therapy technologies are so complex and computer driven that it is difficult for physicians and technologists to know exactly what is happening at the point-of-care. Medical physicists responsible for filling this gap in knowledge must stay abreast of the latest advances at the intersection of medical imaging and radiation therapy. This book provides medical physicists and radiation oncologists current and relevant information on Adaptive Radiation Therapy (ART), a state-of-the-art approach that uses a feedback process to account for patient-specific anatomic and/or biological changes, thus delivering highly individualized radiation therapy for cancer patients. The book should also benefit medical dosimetrists and radiation therapists.

Adaptive Radiation Therapy

• Morphological and biological biomarkers for patient-specific planning
• Design and optimization of treatment plans
• Delivery of IMRT and IGRT intervention methodologies of ART
• Management of intrafraction variations, particularly with respiratory motion
• Quality assurance needed to ensure the safe delivery of ART
• ART applications in several common cancer types / anatomic sites

The technology and methodology for ART have advanced significantly in the last few years and accumulated clinical data have demonstrated the need for ART in clinical settings, assisted by the wide application of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT). This book shows the real potential for supplying every patient with individualized radiation therapy that is maximally accurate and precise.

Treatment planning and delivery of physically and biologically adaptive radiation therapy: An introduction. Part I. Treatment Planning. Goals of radiation therapy. 3D and 4D Morphological imaging for radiation treatment planning. Biological Imaging for Radiation Treatment Planning. Biomarkers for early radiation response. Inverse treatment planning. Biologically-based models for treatment planning. Tumor Radiation Response assessment and feedback for treatment planning. Normal Tissue Radiation Response Assessment and Feedback for treatment planning. Part II. Treatment Delivery. IMRT delivery. CT-based IGRT technology. Non-CT based IGRT. Off-line Correction Strategies for interfraction variations. Online Correction strategies for interfraction variations. Intrafraction Variations and Management Technologies. Stereotactic radiation therapy delivery. Image-guide brachytherapy. Quality Assurance in Adaptive Radiation Therapy. Part III. Clinical Applications. Adaptive Radiation Therapy for Central Nervous System. Adaptive Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck. Adaptive Radiation therapy for Breast. Adaptive Radiation Therapy for Lung. Adaptive Radiation Therapy for Liver. Adaptive Radiation Therapy for Prostate. Adaptive Radiation Therapy for Sarcoma.