As the focus is on clinical application, the teachers’ team consists of both radiation oncologists and medical physicists.

Course Director 

• Ben Vanneste, Radiation Oncologist, UZ Ghent Belgium, and Maastro Clinic, Maastricht (NL)

Teachers 

• Charlotte Brouwer, Medical Physicist, University of Groningen (NL)
• Maria Antoinetta Gambacorta, Radiation Oncologist, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome (IT) 
• Danielle Eekers, Radiation Oncologist, Maastro Clinic, Maastricht (NL)
• Pierfrancesco Franco, Radiation Oncologist, University of Turin (IT) 
• Indira Madani, Radiation Oncologist, University Hospital Zurich (CH) 
• Peter Remeijer, Medical Physicist, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam (NL) 
• Charlotte Robert, Medical Physicist, Paris-Saclay University (FR)
• Esther Troost, Radiation Oncologist, TU Dresden (DE)

This course aims to:

• Make understandable the principles and limitations of different imaging modalities utilised for target volume definition (TVD) such as ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET) 
• Present the need for TVD and planning nomenclatures for primary tumour, nodal regions and organs-at-risk (OAR)
• Provide appreciation for the limitations of current imaging modalities for TVD and review “state-of-the-art” imaging modalities for TVD 
• Explore the use of functional and molecular imaging in TVD for biological targets and their use in radiotherapy 
• Review the diagnostic imaging and therapy interface for image registration, deformation and verification as well as margin determination.

Learning Outcomes

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

• Develop a thorough understanding of the concepts of Gross Tumor Volume (GTV), Clinical Target Volume (CTV), and Planning Target Volume (PTV) across the most important tumor types; uro, gyne, breast, digestive, lung, H&N, CNS.
• Enhance and train up-to-date delineation skills for all tumor types.
• Have a comprehensive understanding of all parts of the planning process and also plan evaluation for intensity modulated radiotherapy (both step-and-shoot IMRT and VMAT)
• Increase accuracy as well as effectiveness in the planning process
• Understand the basis for comparing different plans for the same case
• Understand the problem of competing priorities in planning
• Appreciate the concept of plan optimisation.

Course Content

• Hands-on workshops focused on delineating tumor regions and CTV in key tumor areas, including prostate, lung, CNS, head and neck, rectum, and breast.
• Courses covering the essential details of delineating GTV, CTV, and OAR in all major tumor areas.
• Broadening the therapeutic band width
• Dose calculation algorithms and their differences in clinical impact
• Applying ICRU in treatment planning
• Rationale behind IMRT Practical guidelines for both step-and-shoot
• IMRT and VMAT planning
• Physical and biological optimisation
• Adaptive planning strategies
• Library planning, dose painting planning, robust and probabilistic planning.
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TP Systems

Monaco, Pinnacle3, RayStation, Eclipse and TomoTherapy 

Prerequisites

Before commencing this course participants should:

• Have at least 1 year experience of radiotherapy planning
• Understand the ICRU definitions of GTV, CTV and PTV
• Understand the relationship between target dose and organs at risk.

Teaching Methods

• 19 hours of lectures
• 9 hours of practical workshops
• 4 hours of case discussions

Methods of Assessment

• MCQ  
• Evaluation form

Ramada Plaza Bucharest
Str. Poligrafiei nr. 3-5, Sectorul 1
Bucharest, Romania 013704

Scientific programme

The preliminary programme will become available in spring. ESTRO keeps the right to change the programme at any time.

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