Conformal radiation therapy represents a new challenge. It offers the prospect of either increasing the radiation dose to target tissues while delivering a similar dose to organs at risk, or reducing the dose to organs at risk while maintaining the dose to target tissues. First, lymph node areas at risk are established using the available data from pathological examination. Then, based on a three-dimensional description of the anatomical regions, guidelines for the delineation of the clinical target volumes are proposed. The data presented should enable the reader to make appropriate decisions regarding the selection and delineation of the target volumes when confronted with the most frequent tumor types and sites.

This textbook is designed to help the busy radiation oncologist to accurately and confidently delineate tumor volumes for conformal radiation therapy (including IMRT). The book provides an atlas of clinical target volumes (CTVs) for commonly encountered cancers, with each chapter illustrating CTV delineation on a slice-by-slice basis, on planning CT images. Common anatomic variants for each tumor are represented in individual illustrations, with annotations highlighting differences in coverage. The anatomy of each site and patterns of lymphatic drainage are discussed, and their influence on the design of CTVs is explained in detail. Utilization of other imaging modalities, including MRI, to delineate volumes is highlighted. Key details of simulation and planning are briefly reviewed. Although the emphasis is on target volume delineation for conformal techniques, information is also provided on conventional radiation field setup and design when IMRT is not suitable.

This handbook will enable radiation oncologists to appropriately and confidently select and delineate tumor volumes/fields for conformal radiation therapy, including intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), in patients with commonly encountered cancers. The orientation of this handbook is entirely practical, in that the focus is on the illustration of clinical target volume (CTV) delineation for each major malignancy. Each chapter provides guidelines and concise knowledge on treatment planning and CTV selection, explains how the anatomy of lymphatic drainage shapes target volume selection, and presents detailed illustrations of delineations, slice by slice, on planning CT images. While the emphasis is on target volume delineation for three-dimensional conformal therapy and IMRT, information is also provided on conventional radiation therapy field setup and planning for certain malignancies for which IMRT is not currently suitable.

Provides an account of the perspective, methodology, and experience in the physical and medical aspects of IMRT at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC).

Accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) is being rapidly introduced into the clinical management of early breast cancer. APBI, in fact, encompasses a number of different techniques and approaches that include brachytherapy, intraoperative, and external beam techniques. There is currently no single source that describes these techniques and their clinical implementation. This text is a concise handbook designed to assist the clinician in the implementation of APBI. This includes a review of the principles that underlie APBI, a practical and detailed description of each technique for APBI, a review of current clinical results of APBI, and a review of the incidence and management of treatment related complications.

This handbook is designed to enable radiation oncologists to treat patients appropriately and confidently by means of particle therapy. The orientation and purpose are entirely practical, in that the focus is on the physics essentials of delivery and treatment planning , illustration of the clinical target volume (CTV) and associated treatment planning for each major malignancy when using particle therapy, proton therapy in particular. Disease-specific chapters provide guidelines and concise knowledge on CTV selection and delineation and identify aspects that require the exercise of caution during treatment planning. The treatment planning techniques unique to proton therapy for each disease site are clearly described, covering beam orientation, matching/patching field techniques, robustness planning, robustness plan evaluation, etc. The published data on the use of particle therapy for a given disease site are also concisely reported. In addition to fully meeting the needs of radiation oncologists, this "know why" and “know how” guide to particle therapy will be valuable for medical physicists, dosimetrists, and radiation therapists.

Gynecologic cancer includes cancer of the female lower genital tract: vagina, vulva, cervix, endometrium, uterus, and ovaries. Gynecologic Cancer is the fourth volume in the M.D. Anderson Cancer Care Series, featuring the current standard approach to gynecologic cancer care from the experts at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Designed for the practicing oncologist, this clinical guidebook allows for quick, authoritative access to the latest and best multimodality therapies. Topics covered in this volume include primary prevention and early detection, preinvasive diseases of female lower genital tract, pathology and imaging of gynecologica malignancies, treatment of vaginal, cervical, endometrial, uterine cancers. Discussions also address fertility-sparing options for treatment of women with gynecologica cancers as well as sexuality in women with gyn malignancies. Each of the 20 chapters ends with an up-to-date list of suggested readings, as well as "key practice points" highlighting the most principles and practices of each chapter for at-a-glance reference. More than 80 illustrations complement the text. This thorough, practical volume is the essential clinical guide for the oncologists, surgeons, and all physicians involved in the care of patients with gynecologic cancer.

Modern medical imaging and radiation therapy technologies are so complex and computer driven that it is difficult for physicians and technologists to know exactly what is happening at the point-of-care. Medical physicists responsible for filling this gap in knowledge must stay abreast of the latest advances at the intersection of medical imaging an

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has emerged as an important innovative treatment for various primary and metastatic cancers. This book provides a comprehensive and up-to-date account of the physical/technological, biological, and clinical aspects of SBRT. It will serve as a detailed resource for this rapidly developing treatment modality. The organ sites covered include lung, liver, spine, pancreas, prostate, adrenal, head and neck, and female reproductive tract. Retrospective studies and prospective clinical trials on SBRT for various organ sites from around the world are examined, and toxicities and normal tissue constraints are discussed. This book features unique insights from world-renowned experts in SBRT from North America, Asia, and Europe. It will be necessary reading for radiation oncologists, radiation oncology residents and fellows, medical physicists, medical physics residents, medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, and cancer scientists.

Clinical conformal radiotherapy is the holy grail of radiation treatment and is now becoming a reality through the combined efforts of physical scientists and engineers, who have improved the physical basis of radiotherapy, and the interest and concern of imaginative radiotherapists and radiographers. Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy de