Course director 

Maria Mania Aspradakis, Clinical Medical Physicist, Kantonsspital Winterthur, Winterthur (CH)

Teachers 

• Anders Ahnesjö, Medical Physics Researcher, Uppsala University, Uppsala (SE)
• Crister Ceberg, Medical Physics Researcher, Lund University, Lund (SE)
• Núria Jornet i Sala, Clinical Medical Physicist, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona (ES)
• Edmond Sterpin, Clinical Medical Physicist, KU Leuven, Leuven, (BE)
• Victor Hernandez, Clinical Medical Physicist, Hospital Sant Joan de Reus (ES)
• TBC

The course aims to: 

• Review external beam radiotherapy physics and beam modelling
• Make understandable the concepts behind multi-source modelling and dose calculation algorithms in state-of-the-art treatment planning systems
• Identify and describe the important aspects of commissioning treatment planning systems
• Review dosimetry equipment and dose verification methods of importance for commissioning and verification measurements
• Enable practical implementation of concepts for dose verification in advanced external beam therapy.

Learning Outcomes

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

• Identify and interpret the input data requirements for the configuration of beam models

• Illustrate modelling of the patient, treatment beam and energy deposition in the treatment planning process

• Present the concepts behind simple and advanced dose calculation algorithms as implemented on modern treatment planning systems (TPS) and monitor unit or dose calculation check software tools

• Compare and critically evaluate the tools and methods available for the verification of the calculated dose

• Assess aspects of quality assurance specific to the treatment planning process

Course Content

• Basic concepts: radiation transport physics, dosimetric quantities in dose modelling, convolution

• Linac head design and multisource models

• Patient and phantom characterization for treatment planning

• Kernel-based, Monte Carlo and grid-based approaches to dose calculation

• 1D, 2D and 3D radiation detector systems for TPS commissioning

• Use of measured data in beam model configuration

• Monitor Unit calculations: manual and on TPSs

• Commissioning and quality assurance of a treatment planning system 

• Pre-treatment quality assurance: plan QA, plan complexity and robustness

• Treatment verification: in-vivo dosimetry

• “Workshop" sessions on: measurement methodologies, modelling and plan QA.

Prerequisites

You should preferably have already attended the ESTRO course ‘Physics for Modern Radiotherapy’ or equivalent.

Teaching Methods

Approximately (4.5 days/36 h): 

• 28 hours of lectures 

• 5 hours of practical problem solving 

• 2 hours of Q&A 

Methods of Assessment

• Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)

• Practical sessions & discussions

• Evaluation form

Key Words

• Pencil kernel, point kernels, convolution/superposition

• Monte Carlo

• Monitor Unit calculations

• TPS commissioning

• Plan verification

      The preliminary programme will be made available soon

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 recognized 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.

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Membership

ESTRO members can order products at substantially reduced prices. To benefit from the member registration rate, you must subscribe for the ESTRO membership 2025 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

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, 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. 

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 2025 are eligible (please make sure your 2025 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