Features
Provides essential background information and practical guidelines for quick reference to modern brachytherapy techniques
Offers a balanced perspective from experts across the globe
Includes recommendations from the major professional organizations
Integrates the physics and clinical aspects of the practice
Presents a complete overview of the design, performance, and management of quality assurance programs

Summary
Brachytherapy delivers a highly localized dose to a target region using radionuclides implanted in or very near to the tumor. This book provides a complete overview of the field and covers related delivery modalities such as electronic brachytherapy. Along with exploring new clinical protocols, it discusses major advances under development, including imaging, robotics, strategies for improved dosimetry, Monte Carlo-based dose calculation, and optimization. The first part of the text offers a detailed understanding of the underlying physics, design, and implementation of the techniques. The second part provides a practical guide for practitioners.


PART ONE: PHYSICAL ASPECTS
Introduction
Introduction, Jack Venselaar
Standard Technology in Brachytherapy, Rupak Das, Bruce Thomadsen, and Jack Venselaar
Radionuclides in Brachytherapy: Current and Potential New Sources, Ravi Nath and Dimos Baltas
Quality Management of Equipment, Wayne Butler and Jack Venselaar

Brachytherapy Dosimetry Methods
Source Calibration, Heikki Toelli, Larry DeWerd, and Jan Seuntjens
Experimental Dosimetry Methods, Jeff Williamson and Dimos Baltas
Computational Dosimetry Methods, Panos Papagiannis, Luc Beaulieu, and Firas Mourtada

Brachytherapy Treatment Planning
Historical Development of Predictive Dosimetry "Systems," Margaret Bidmead and Ali Meigooni
Two-, Three- and Four-Dimensional Brachytherapy, Etienne Lessard, Christian Kirisits, and Kari Tanderup
TG-43 dose Calculation Algorithm, Mark Rivard and Ali Meigooni
Primary and Scatter Separation and Monte Carlo-Based Clinical Treatment Planning, Asa Carlsson, Luc Beanlieu, and Frank Verhaegen
Optimization and Evaluation, Dimos Baltas and Inger-Karine Kolkman-Deurloo
Quality Management of Treatment Planning, Zuofeng Li and Ali Meigoo ni

Imaging in Brachytherapy
Practical Use and Limitations of Imaging in Brachytherapy, Frank-Andre Siebert
Quality Assurance Requirements for Brachytherapy Imaging, Robert Cormack and Frank-Audre Siebert

Uncertainties in Clinical Brachytherapy
Uncertainties Associated with Calibration and Dose Calculation, Larry DeWerd and Heikki Toelli
Uncertainties Associated with Clinical Procedures, Christian Kirisits and Marisol DeBranbandere
Margin Concepts in Brachytherapy, Kari Tanderup, Taran Paulsen-Hellebust


Appendix

PART TWO: CLINICAL ASPECTS
Introduction
Introduction, Peter Hoskin
Radiobiology for Brachytherapy, Marco Zaider and Peter Hoskin
Introduction to Brachytherapy of Prostate, Alfredo Polo and Jan Batterman
Introduction to Brachytherapy of Gynaecology, Richard Poetter and Beth Erickson
Introduction to Brachytherapy of Breast, Erik van Limbergen
Overview of Brachytherapy to Other Treatment Sites, Vratislav Strnad

Reporting and Recording
ICRU-38, Richard Poetter
ICRU-58, Richard Poetter

Developments in Clinical Brachytherapy
In vivo Dosimetry, Joanna Cygler and Kari Tanderup
Special Brachytherapy Modalities, Bruce Thomadseu and Ravi Nath
Other Advanced Technologies, Mark Rivard, Luc Beaulieu, and Rien Moerland
Intraoperative Brachytherapy, Joost Nuyttens

Radiation Protection
Radiation Protection in Brachytherapy, Panos Papagiannis

Perspectives on Quality Management
A New Paradigm for Quality Management in Brachytherapy, Bruce Thomadsen and Saiful Huq
Quality Audits in Brachytherapy, Geoff Ibbott and Carlos de Almeida
Expert Training in Brachytherapy, Zoubir Ouhib and Alex Rijnders

Appendix