Course Director

• Laura Mullaney, Radiation Therapist, Trinity College, Dublin (IE)

Teachers

• Luca Boldrini, Radiation Oncologist, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome (IT)
• Simon Goldsworthy - Radiation Therapist, Beacon radiotherapy, Musgrove Park Hospital, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust (UK)
• Lotte S. Fog, Medical Physicist, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne (AU)
• Michelle Leech, Radiation Therapist, Trinity College, Dublin (IE)
• Sophie Perryck, Radiation Therapist , University Hospital, Zurich, Zurich (CH)
• Sharon Wong Mei, Radiation Therapist, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore (SG)

Guest Online Lecturer

Todd Pawlicki, Medical Physicist, University of California, San Diego, (USA)

Local Organiser

Jelizaveta Ter-Minasjan, Radiation Therapist , North Estonia Medical Centre Foundation

The course aims to provide:

• Knowledge of the impact patient immobilisation and positioning has on the radiation therapy process and treatment outcomes
• Practical experience of constructing and using immobilisation devices for a range of disease site and treatment techniques
• A forum for participants to gain and exchange knowledge on patient immobilisation and positioning.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course participants should be able to:

• Discuss the need for accurate and precise patient immobilisation and positioning in radiation therapy
• Evaluate the impact of positioning and immobilisation on margins required for adequate dose delivery
• Construct and optimally use immobilisation devices for a range of anatomical sites
• Solve difficult cases where conventional immobilisation devices may not be appropriate. 
• Compare and evaluate the efficacy of immobilisation devices/positions 
• Evaluate positioning and immobilisation procedures in the context of radiation therapy risk management.

Course Content

The course will cover the following topics:

• Fundamental principles of positioning and immobilisation
• Impact of positioning and immobilisation on treatment planning
• Immobilising patients for a range of anatomical areas
• Positioning errors on margins
• Impact of positioning and immobilisation on:
  • treatment verification
  • clinical outcome

• Risk and positioning on immobilisation
• Case discussions

Course Design

The course will take place over a 6 weeks period and will be delivered using a blended learning approach, i.e. a combination of recorded online seminars, live teleconferencing and face-to-face teaching:

• The theoretical components will be delivered using the ESTRO Moodle, the ESTRO Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), where recorded seminars will be available for participants to join at a time that suits them.
• Additionally, live teleconference tutorials will also take place to provide participants with the opportunity to discuss their learning to date with the teachers and peers.
• The face-to-face component of the course will occur over a two-day period at the North Estonia Medical Centre Foundation (SA Põhja-Eesti Regionaalhaigla), 19 J. Sütiste Str , 13419 Tallinn

For the updated calendars please consult the ESTRO website page of this course.

Teaching Methods

• 6 hours of online lectures
• 3 hours of online individual/group activities
• 3 hours of live teleconference tutorials
• 1 practical weekend with workshops

Methods of Assessment

• MCQ
• Evaluation form.

Programme

The working schedule is available here

Key Words

• Positioning
• Immobilisation
• Margins
• Reproducibility
• Radiotherapy.

Further reading

To be provided if available.

Accreditation

Application for CME and CDP recognition will be submitted to the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME), an institution of the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS). EACCME credits are recognised by the American Medical Association towards the Physician’s Recognition Award (PRA). Information on the status of the applications can be obtained from the ESTRO office.

Venue

To follow

Membership

ESTRO members can order products at substantially reduced prices. Please note that in order to benefit from the member price, you must renew your membership for 2021 before registering to the course.To benefit from these member rates, please visit the membership page to become a member or renew your membership BEFORE proceeding with your order.

Fees

* Members with specialty RadiationTherapist (RTT) may register at the In Training fee

Early rates are applied up to three months before the starting date of the course.

Late rates are applied three months before the starting date of the course.

The fee includes the course material, coffees, lunches, and the social event.

Advance registration & payment are required.

Since the number of participants is limited, late registrants are advised to contact the ESTRO office before payment, to inquire about availability of places. Access to homework and/or course material will become available upon receipt of full payment.

Insurance and cancellation

Cancellation policy related to COVID-19: If you are unable to attend the course due to the COVID-19 emergency, you are entitled to receive a full refund of your registration fee minus 15% handling charges.  This policy applies to the following cases:

• You have contracted coronavirus (please provide us with a medical certificate)

• Travel restrictions have been put in place against your country by the country where the course is held

• Timeline for cancellation : 3 days before the course

In case the course might be cancelled by ESTRO, you will receive full refund of the paid registration fee.

The organiser does not accept liability for individual medical, travel or personal insurance. Participants are strongly advised to take out their own personal insurance policies. ESTRO will not be responsible for the refund of travel and accommodation costs.

Reduced fees

ESTRO members from economically challenged countries may register at a preferential rate of 350 Euro if three conditions are met:

1. Only ESTRO members for 2021 are eligible (please make sure your 2021 membership is in order before you apply for the reduced fees)
2. Only one course per person per year can be subsidized by ESTRO
3. Sponsored candidates are not entitled to reduced fees (the invoicing address has to be the one of the participant)  

Please note: