Instrumentation Applied to Medicine
A.Y. 2026/2027
Learning objectives
Introduction to the applications of physics in the field of medicine, with particular reference to both the diagnostic and therapeutic use
of ionizing radiation.
of ionizing radiation.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, student will have acquired the following knowledge
·Main features of Radiotherapy equipments
·Radiation beams generation for external radiotherapy and brachytherapy
·Beams properties and clinical dosimetry, for both photon and electron beams
·Dose calculation and dose distribution by treatment planning systems dedicated to radiotherapy.
·Quality control for radiotherapy equipments
·Imaging devices in nuclear medicine (SPECT, PET).
·Radionuclide for nuclear medicine imaging
·Filtering and Reconstruction techniques for tomographic imaging
·Planar and tomographic quality controls
·Absorbed dose calculation in nuclear medicine application (internal dosimetry).
·Main features of Radiotherapy equipments
·Radiation beams generation for external radiotherapy and brachytherapy
·Beams properties and clinical dosimetry, for both photon and electron beams
·Dose calculation and dose distribution by treatment planning systems dedicated to radiotherapy.
·Quality control for radiotherapy equipments
·Imaging devices in nuclear medicine (SPECT, PET).
·Radionuclide for nuclear medicine imaging
·Filtering and Reconstruction techniques for tomographic imaging
·Planar and tomographic quality controls
·Absorbed dose calculation in nuclear medicine application (internal dosimetry).
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Course Topics:
External Beam Radiotherapy
Radiation Therapy Equipment: The X-ray Tube and the Cobalt Therapy Unit.
Radiation Therapy Equipment: The Linear Accelerator, Types of Radiotherapy Machines.
Kerma and Dose Concepts for Photon Beams.
Physical and Dosimetric Characteristics of a Photon Beam for Radiotherapy: PDD and Its Dependencies.
Physical and Dosimetric Characteristics of a Photon Beam for Radiotherapy: TPR, TMR, and OF.
Calculation of Monitor Units for a Photon Beam under Different Geometric Conditions.
Spatial Characteristics of a Photon Beam for Radiotherapy.
Physical and Dosimetric Characteristics of an Electron Beam for Radiotherapy: PDD and Its Dependencies.
Physical and Dosimetric Characteristics of an Electron Beam for Radiotherapy: Calculation of Monitor Units for an Electron Beam.
Description of a Treatment Planning System (TPS) for Radiotherapy.
Dose distribution correction methods for irregular surfaces and tissue heterogeneity.
Brachytherapy
Introduction to Brachytherapy: Brachytherapy for prostate cancer, gynecological tumors and eye tumors.
Calculating brachytherapy dose.
Nuclear Medicine
The physical principles of the gamma camera
The evolution from the gamma camera system to the SPECT scanner
The physical principles of positron emission detection
The PET scanner, the latest generation of scanners
An overview of multimodal image registration techniques (CT, MR, and SPECT/PET)
An overview of tomographic reconstruction techniques in nuclear medicine: filtered back projection, iterative reconstruction techniques
Radioisotopes used for metabolic diagnostics and therapy
Dose estimation in nuclear medicine
External Beam Radiotherapy
Radiation Therapy Equipment: The X-ray Tube and the Cobalt Therapy Unit.
Radiation Therapy Equipment: The Linear Accelerator, Types of Radiotherapy Machines.
Kerma and Dose Concepts for Photon Beams.
Physical and Dosimetric Characteristics of a Photon Beam for Radiotherapy: PDD and Its Dependencies.
Physical and Dosimetric Characteristics of a Photon Beam for Radiotherapy: TPR, TMR, and OF.
Calculation of Monitor Units for a Photon Beam under Different Geometric Conditions.
Spatial Characteristics of a Photon Beam for Radiotherapy.
Physical and Dosimetric Characteristics of an Electron Beam for Radiotherapy: PDD and Its Dependencies.
Physical and Dosimetric Characteristics of an Electron Beam for Radiotherapy: Calculation of Monitor Units for an Electron Beam.
Description of a Treatment Planning System (TPS) for Radiotherapy.
Dose distribution correction methods for irregular surfaces and tissue heterogeneity.
Brachytherapy
Introduction to Brachytherapy: Brachytherapy for prostate cancer, gynecological tumors and eye tumors.
Calculating brachytherapy dose.
Nuclear Medicine
The physical principles of the gamma camera
The evolution from the gamma camera system to the SPECT scanner
The physical principles of positron emission detection
The PET scanner, the latest generation of scanners
An overview of multimodal image registration techniques (CT, MR, and SPECT/PET)
An overview of tomographic reconstruction techniques in nuclear medicine: filtered back projection, iterative reconstruction techniques
Radioisotopes used for metabolic diagnostics and therapy
Dose estimation in nuclear medicine
Prerequisites for admission
Basic knowledge of the following topics:
1. Interaction of radiation with matter.
2. Radioactive decay.
3. Basic concepts of gamma spectrometry.
4. Basic concepts of dosimetry.
1. Interaction of radiation with matter.
2. Radioactive decay.
3. Basic concepts of gamma spectrometry.
4. Basic concepts of dosimetry.
Teaching methods
The teaching method adopted includes lectures and one or two sessions of absolute and relative dose measurements from a radiotherapy linear accelerator, as well as a session in which a typical treatment planning system dedicated to radiotherapy treatments with photons is presented.
Teaching Resources
1. The Physics of radiation therapy, F.M. Khan, third edition, Lippincott Williams&Wilkins
2. La fisica in medicina nucleare, M. Marengo, eds Patron,
3. PET, Physics, Instrumentation and Scanners. M. E. Phelps
4. course slides
5. Selected scientific publications on specific topics
2. La fisica in medicina nucleare, M. Marengo, eds Patron,
3. PET, Physics, Instrumentation and Scanners. M. E. Phelps
4. course slides
5. Selected scientific publications on specific topics
Assessment methods and Criteria
Assessment is by means of an oral exam. Students will initially be asked to provide an in-depth presentation of one of the topics covered in the course. Subsequently, targeted questions will be used to assess their knowledge and ability to describe the physics underlying the operation of radiotherapy and nuclear medicine equipment, as well as patient dose delivery and image formation.
The exam generally lasts approximately 45-60 minutes.
The exam generally lasts approximately 45-60 minutes.
PHYS-06/A - Physics for Life Sciences, Environment, and Cultural Heritage - University credits: 6
Lessons: 42 hours
Professor:
Pignoli Emanuele
Professor(s)