COURSE AIM

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 National Institute of Oncology, Budapest.

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.

KEY WORDS

• Positioning
• Immobilisation
• Margins
• Reproducibility
• Radiation Therapy

FURTHER READING

To be provided if available

ACCREDITATION

Application for CME 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.

FACULTY

COURSE DIRECTOR

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

TEACHERS

• Luca Boldrini, Radiation Oncologist, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" IRCCS, Rome, Italy
• Michelle Leech, Radiation Therapist, Trinity College, Dublin (IE)
• Lotte S. Fog, Medical Physicist, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne (AU)
• Simon Goldsworthy, Radiation Therapist, Beacon radiotherapy, Musgrove Park Hospital, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust (UK)
• Sophie Perryck, Radiation Therapist, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich (CH)
• Sharon Wong Mei Mei (SWMM), Radiation Therapist, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore (SG)

Guest Online Lecturer

• Todd Pawlicki, Medical Physicist, University of California, San Diego, (USA)
• Claudio Votta, Radiation Therapist, TBC

LOCAL ORGANISER

Tibor Major, Physicist, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest

Tuesday 29th March 08:00 CET 

Tuesday 26th April 09:00 CET

Tuesday 17th May 08:00 CET 

National Institute of Oncology

Ráth György u. 7-9,

Budapest 1122

Hungary

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).