By the mid-1950s, a linear accelerator suitable for treating deep-seated tumors was built in the Stanford Microwave Laboratory and installed at Stanford Hospital. It served as a prototype for commercial units that were built later. Since that time, medical linear accelerators gained in popularity as major radiation therapy devices, but few basic training materials on their operation had been produced for use by medical professionals. C.J. Karzmark, a radiological physicist at Stanford University, was involved with medical linacs since their development, and he agreed to collaborate with Robert Morton of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (formerly the Bureau of Radiological Health), U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in writing the first edition of this primer.

Linear Accelerators for Radiation Therapy, Second Edition focuses on the fundamentals of accelerator systems, explaining the underlying physics and the different features of these systems. This edition includes expanded sections on the treatment head, on x-ray production via multileaf and dynamic collimation for the production of wedged and other intensity modulated beams, on electron scattering systems, and on dosimetry. With high-quality illustrations and practical examples throughout, it contains a detailed description of electron beam optics and linear accelerator components. The final chapter explains how to use other equipment, such as scanners and simulators, in conjunction with linear accelerators for optimum treatment of cancers.

Organized to serve as a ready reference, this book covers the design & principles of operation of microwave electron linear accelerators for the radiation treatment of cancer. Designed for use by persons without extensive knowledge & experience of accelerator technology, the book assumes a knowledge of elementary physics & mathematics & places its emphasis on how accelerators actually function & how they are used in cancer treatment. Coverage includes the history of development & application, general theory of acceleration, accelerator systems, radiation beam systems & associated equipment, performance characteristics, testing & use. The major modules of a representative medical accelerator are described, including principles of operation & how these models function collectively to produce electron & X-ray beams for radiotherapy.

Gain mastery over the fundamentals of radiation oncology physics! This package gives you over 60 tutorial videos (each 15-20 minutes in length) with a companion text, providing the most complete and effective introduction available. Dr. Ford has tested this approach in formal instruction for years with outstanding results. The text includes extensive problem sets for each chapter. The videos include embedded quizzes and "whiteboard" screen technology to facilitate comprehension. Together, this provides a valuable learning tool both for training purposes and as a refresher for those in practice. Key Features A complete learning package for radiation oncology physics, including a full series of video tutorials with an associated textbook companion website Clearly drawn, simple illustrations throughout the videos and text Embedded quiz feature in the video tutorials for testing comprehension while viewing Each chapter includes problem sets (solutions available to educators)

Dr. Khan's classic textbook on radiation oncology physics is now in its thoroughly revised and updated Fourth Edition. It provides the entire radiation therapy team—radiation oncologists, medical physicists, dosimetrists, and radiation therapists—with a thorough understanding of the physics and practical clinical applications of advanced radiation therapy technologies, including 3D-CRT, stereotactic radiotherapy, HDR, IMRT, IGRT, and proton beam therapy. These technologies are discussed along with the physical concepts underlying treatment planning, treatment delivery, and dosimetry. This Fourth Edition includes brand-new chapters on image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) and proton beam therapy. Other chapters have been revised to incorporate the most recent developments in the field. This edition also features more than 100 full-color illustrations throughout. A companion Website will offer the fully searchable text and an image bank.

This publication is aimed at students and teachers involved in teaching programmes in field of medical radiation physics, and it covers the basic medical physics knowledge required in the form of a syllabus for modern radiation oncology. The information will be useful to those preparing for professional certification exams in radiation oncology, medical physics, dosimetry or radiotherapy technology.

Edited by internationally recognized authorities in the field, this handbook focuses on Linacs, Synchrotrons and Storage Rings and is intended as a vade mecum for professional engineers and physicists engaged in these subjects. Here one will find, in addition to the common formulae of previous compilations, hard to find specialized formulae, recipes and material data pooled from the lifetime experiences of many of the world's most able practitioners of the art and science of accelerator building and operation.

Proton Therapy Physics goes beyond current books on proton therapy to provide an in-depth overview of the physics aspects of this radiation therapy modality, eliminating the need to dig through information scattered in the medical physics literature. After tracing the history of proton therapy, the book summarizes the atomic and nuclear physics background necessary for understanding proton interactions with tissue. It describes the physics of proton accelerators, the parameters of clinical proton beams, and the mechanisms to generate a conformal dose distribution in a patient. The text then covers detector systems and measuring techniques for reference dosimetry, outlines basic quality assurance and commissioning guidelines, and gives examples of Monte Carlo simulations in proton therapy. The book moves on to discussions of treatment planning for single- and multiple-field uniform doses, dose calculation concepts and algorithms, and precision and uncertainties for nonmoving and moving targets. It also examines computerized treatment plan optimization, methods for in vivo dose or beam range verification, the safety of patients and operating personnel, and the biological implications of using protons from a physics perspective. The final chapter illustrates the use of risk models for common tissue complications in treatment optimization. Along with exploring quality assurance issues and biological considerations, this practical guide collects the latest clinical studies on the use of protons in treatment planning and radiation monitoring. Suitable for both newcomers in medical physics and more seasoned specialists in radiation oncology, the book helps readers understand the uncertainties and limitations of precisely shaped dose distribution.

The papers collected in this hugely useful volume cover the principle physical and biological aspects of radiation therapy and in addition, address practical clinical considerations in the planning and delivering of that therapy. The importance of the assessment of uncertainties is emphasized. Topics include an overview of the physics of the interactions of radiation with matter and the definition of the goals and the design of radiation therapy approaches.