Course director

Mischa Hoogeman, Medical Physicist, Erasmus Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam (NL)

Co-chair

Carmen Rubio, Radiation Oncologist, Hospital Universitario HM Sanchinarro, Madrid (ES)

Teachers

Sofie Ceberg, Medical Physicist, Skåne University Hospital, Lund (SE)

Lone Hoffmann, Medical Physicist, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus (DK)

Maja Vestmø Maraldo, Clinical Oncologist, Risghospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen (DK)

Eva Onjukka, Medical Physicist, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm (SE)

Valentina Vanoni, Radiation Oncologist, Ospedale Santa Chiara di Trento, Trento (IT)

Guest Lecturer

Arjen van der Schaaf, Medical Physicist, University of Groningen, Groningen (NL)

COURSE AIM

To present and discuss:

• The scientific basis of IMRT/VMAT and highly conformal radiation techniques
• The technical aspects of treatment preparation and treatment delivery
• Dose calculation and the quality assurance process
• Inverse planning optimisation and its practical implementation
• The latest developments in IMRT/VMAT irradiation modalities
• The clinical aspects of IMRT/VMAT, including clinical outcomes, site-specific issues, normal tissue tolerance and emerging indications.
• The relationship between IMRT/VMAT and other advanced radiotherapy techniques (e.g., IGRT, SBRT and adaptive radiotherapy).

COURSE OVERVIEW

Learning outcomes

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

• Describe, at least in qualitative terms, the inverse treatment planning process and potential issues with all elements involved
• List specific contouring requirements for IMRT/VMAT and, in particular for a clinician, assess the extent to which these requirements are fulfilled in their clinical practice
• Judge/revise the appropriateness of the dose-volume-constraints used in their clinical practice with respect to the current state-of-the-art
• Analyse/judge treatment plans with regard to applicability, safety and efficacy
• Evaluate their dosimetry practice with respect to the current standard of practice (specifically for physicists)
• Reassess their procedure in producing highly conformal treatment plans (specifically for a dosimetrists)
• Summarise the overall clinical outcomes and remaining open issues with highly conformal techniques across disease types.

Course content

• Rationale of IMRT/VMAT 
• Delivery modalities 
• Dosimetry and commissioning 
• Quality assurance 
• Imaging and contouring 
• Treatment plan optimisation
• Automated treatment planning 
• Normal tissue tolerance, dose-volume constraints 
• Impact of motion and geometrical uncertainties on IMRT/VMAT 
• Clinical case discussions 
• IGRT, SBRT and adaptive radiotherapy
• Discussion of IMRT/VMAT-specific clinical issues for Head and Neck, Breast, Lung, Gastrointestinal, Prostate, Lymphoma and Gynecological cancer

Practical demonstrations will take place on-site in close collaboration with the local staff. Three clinical cases, prepared by the participants, will be discussed in small groups with the teaching staff. This course will be organised in close cooperation with the manufacturers of equipment for planning, delivery and QA of IMRT and conformal radiotherapy. Their practical demonstrations will be an important part of the course.

Prerequisites

Before commencing this course, participants should: 

As a clinician: 

• Be familiar with clinical indications for conformal radiotherapy 
• Have a general understanding of the treatment planning process.

As a physicist: 

• Be familiar with quality assurance measurements for conventional therapy 
• Have a general knowledge of CT-based treatment planning.

The participants will be asked to prepare a ‘homework’ based on three clinical cases sent by ESTRO. The results will be discussed in small groups during the course.

Teaching methods

• 17 hours of lectures
• 3 hours of practical demonstrations in a clinical department
• 2 hours of software demonstration
• 3 hours of case discussions

Methods of assessment

• MCQ
• Clinical case discussion
• Evaluation form
• Practical demonstrations

InterContinental Ljubljana, Slovenska cesta 59, 1000 Ljubljana, https://www.ihgplc.com/

Contact the project manager adelmas@estro.org for the code to benefit from the special price.

Participants can book rooms at ljubljana.reservations@ihg.com or 00386 59 128 012.

Draft programme available here

Membership

ESTRO members can order products at substantially reduced prices. To benefit from the member registration rate, you must subscribe for the ESTRO membership 2022 BEFORE registering to the course. To become an ESTRO member, benefit from the member registration rate and discover the many other member advantages, please visit the membership page.

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

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.   

In case an unforeseen event would force ESTRO to cancel the meeting, the Society will reimburse the participants fully the registration fees. ESTRO will not be responsible for the refund of travel and accommodation costs.

In case of cancellation, full refund of the registration fee minus 15% for administrative costs may be obtained up to three months before the course and 50% of the fee up to one month before the course. No refund will be made if the cancellation request is postmarked less than one month before the start of the course.

Reduced fees

Members from emerging countries may register at a preferential rate of 350 Euro. Emerging country fee applies to individuals from low-income and lower-middle-income economies according to the World Bank listing here.

Additionally, all specialties from the following countries can benefit from this preferential rate: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine.  In addition, medical physicists from Cyprus can email education@estro.org to apply for this fee.

The preferential rate of 350 Euro is granted automatically when you click on the  BOOK NOW  button and the three conditions below are met:

1. Only ESTRO members for 2022 are eligible (please make sure your 2022 membership is in order before you click on the BOOK NOW  button)
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:

• We can only guarantee a certain number of reduced fees per course
• Application deadlines are the same as early registration fees (3 months before the course date).