Monte Carlo Techniques in Radiation Therapy Imaging in Medical Diagnosis and Therapy Series

Modern cancer treatment relies on Monte Carlo simulations to help radiotherapists and clinical physicists better understand and compute radiation dose from imaging devices as well as exploit four-dimensional imaging data. With Monte Carlo-based treatment planning tools now available from commercial vendors, a complete transition to Monte Carlo-based dose calculation methods in radiotherapy could likely take place in the next decade. Monte Carlo Techniques in Radiation Therapy explores the use of Monte Carlo methods for modeling various features of internal and external radiation sources, including light ion beams.

The book?the first of its kind?world examples, it illustrates the use of Monte Carlo modeling and simulations in dose calculation, beam delivery, kilovoltage and megavoltage imaging, proton radiography, device design, and much more.

Monte Carlo Fundamentals: History of Monte Carlo. Basics of Monte Carlo Simulations. Variance Reduction Techniques. Overview of Monte Carlo Codes. Application of Monte Carlo Techniques in Radiation Therapy: Applications of Monte Carlo to Radiation Dosimetry. Monte Carlo Modeling of External Photon Beams in Radiotherapy. Monte Carlo Modeling of External Electron Beams in Radiotherapy. Dynamic Beam Delivery and 4D Monte Carlo. Patient Dose Calculation. Monte Carlo Methods and Applications for Brachytherapy Dosimetry and Treatment Planning. Monte Carlo as a QA Tool for Advanced Radiation Therapy. Electrons: Clinical Considerations and Applications. Photons: Clinical Considerations and Applications. Monte Carlo Calculations for Proton and Ion Beam Dosimetry. Protons: Clinical Considerations and Applications. Application of Monte Carlo Methods to Radionuclide Therapy. Monte Carlo for Kilovoltage and Megavoltage Imaging. Monte Carlo Calculations for PET-Based Treatment Verification of Ion Beam Therapy. Monte Carlo Studies of Prompt Gamma Emission and of Proton Radiography/Proton-CT. Monte Carlo for Treatment Device Design. GPU-Based Fast Monte Carlo Simulation for Radiotherapy Dose Calculation. Monte Carlo for Shielding of Radiotherapy Facilities. Index.

Joao Seco is an assistant professor of radiation oncology at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. He earned his PhD from the Institute of Cancer Research, University of London. His research interests range from proton imaging and therapy to photon beam modeling Monte Carlo, electronic portal imaging, and 4D Monte Carlo proton and photon dosimetry.

Frank Verhaegen is head of clinical physics research at the Maastro Clinic. He also holds a professorship at the University of Maastricht. Dr. Verhaegen is a fellow of the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine and the Institute of Physics. He earned his PhD from the University of Ghent. His research interests include imaging and dosimetry for photon and electron therapy, brachytherapy, particle therapy, and small animal radiotherapy.