Faculty

Course director 

Elizabeth Forde, Radiation Therapist, Trinity College, Dublin (IE)

Teachers 

• Philipp Scherer, Radiation Therapist, UK f Radiotherapy and Radio Oncology at PMU at SALK, (AT)  
• José Luis Lopez Guerra, Radiation Oncologist, University Hospital Virgen del Rocio, Sevilla (ES)  
• Helen Grimes, IGRT and Technical Development Lead Physicist, UCLH, London (UK)
• Lisa Wiersema, Radiation Therapist, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam (NL)  
• Peter Remeijer, Medical Physicist, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam (NL)  
• Sophie Bockel, Radiation Oncologist at Gustave Roussy, Paris (FR)

Guest lecturer:

• Lykke K. Johansen, Radiation Therapist, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen (DK)

Local organisers:

• Dr. Erika Korobeinikova, Oncology Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania; President of Lithuanian Society for Radiation Therapy.
• Rita Steponaviciene, Radiation therapy Department, National Cancer Institute, Vilnius, Lithuania

Although modern radiation therapy is a group effort of all members of the multidisciplinary team, this course is primarily designed for RTTs. In this way we will be able to give an overview of the steps in modern radiation therapy with enough time to develop tools and skills specific to RTTs. The theory taught in the lectures will be translated into practical sessions when possible.

Learning Outcomes

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

• Appreciate where modern radiation therapy is at with respect to pre-treatment imaging and target definition, treatment planning and image guidance 

• Appreciate the importance of knowledge of the entire treatment chain of radiation therapy 
• Comprehend and calculate geometrical uncertainties and margins 
• Comprehend the physics of image registration and its influence on clinical image registration 
• Appreciate the importance of quality assurance. 

Course Content

• Pre-treatment imaging modalities: what is available and how is it used in target definition and organ at risk delineation? 
• Patient preparation and immobilisation: what is (im)possible, and is it still important in modern radiation therapy? 
• Geometrical uncertainties and correction strategies: what are the uncertainties in modern radiation therapy and how do correction strategies affect PTV margins? How to calculate your own margins (workshop) 
• Update on advances in radiotherapy treatment planning
• Imaging modalities in the treatment room: what is available and how can it be used to find the target volume? 
• Image registration and evaluation: how to make the best use of the images at hand  
• Understanding algorithms, regions of interest, correction reference points: how to create protocols for IGRT management (workshops and hands-on) 
• Site specific advanced treatment and IGRT techniques 
• Safety issues: the importance of incidence reporting and a feedback loop 
• Implementing and managing advanced treatment techniques: how to implement new gained skills in your department in a multidisciplinary environment.

Prerequisites

Before commencing this course, participants should have an interest in all steps of radiation therapy. All delegates are expected to take part in all lectures, tutorials, and workshops.

Teaching Methods

Approximately (4,5 days/36 h): 

• 23 hours of lectures 
• 3 hours of tutorials 
• 10 hours of practical workshops

Methods of Assessment

• MCQ  
• Delineation exercises 
• Evaluation form

Affilliations

FALCON-logo_with-Baseline

Key Words

• Radiation therapist (RTT) 
• Pre-treatment imaging 
• Treatment planning 
• Image guidance 
• Geometrical uncertainties

Programme available here.

Panorama hotel

Seinų g. 4,

Vilnius, 01313

Vilniaus m. sav.,

Lithuania

Membership

ESTRO members can order products at substantially reduced prices. To benefit from the member registration rate, you must subscribe for the ESTRO membership 2024 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.

Access to homework and/or course material will become available upon receipt of full payment.

Insurance and cancellation

Participants are strongly advised to take out their own personal insurance policy. ESTRO does not accept liability for individual medical, travel or personal accidents or incidents. Participants are strongly advised to take insurance policies to cover flight and accommodation cancellation penalties. ESTRO will not refund any travel or accommodation expenses.

For any cancellation made by the course or workshop participant, ESTRO School Events Cancellation Policy will be followed and all stated penalty fees will be applied. 

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, for this teaching course, all specialties from the following countries can benefit from this preferential rate: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Hungary, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, 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 conditions below are met:

1. Only ESTRO members for 2024 are eligible (please make sure your 2024 membership is in order before you click on the BOOK NOW button)
2. The application is submitted 3 months before the course start date.
3. Only one course per person per year can be subsidized by ESTRO
4. Sponsored candidates are not entitled to reduced fees (the invoicing address has to be the one of the participant)  
5. There are limited spaces available for each course in the price category. Places are granted on “first come first serve” basis.