Module Details

The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title Medical Applications
Code PHYS384
Coordinator Professor LJ Harkness-Brennan
Physics
Laura.Harkness@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2021-22 Level 6 FHEQ Second Semester 15

Aims

To introduce the physics principles of radiation therapy and treatment planning; to understand interactions of radiation with biological materials and detectors; to understand the need for modelling in radiobiological applications; to obtain a knowledge of imaging modalities used for diagnosis and treatment verification; to construct a simple model of a radiation therapy application.


Learning Outcomes

(LO1) To understand the principles of radiotherapy and treatment planning.

(LO2) To develop a knowledge of radiation transport and the interaction of radiation with biological tissue.

(LO3) to understand the need for Monte Carlo modelling and beam modelling

(LO4) to have a knowledge of the principles of common imaging modalities used in medicine

(LO5) to have a basic understanding of radiobiology

(LO6) to have experience developing a simple radiotherapy treatment plan

(S1) Problem solving skills.


Syllabus

 

Principles of radiotherapy: Review of essential interaction physics; review of relevant basic probability theory; introduction to radiation transport and the Boltzmann equation; principles of brachytherapy and radionuclide therapy.

Principles of medical imaging: Overview of the imaging techniques used for diagnosis and treatment verification, including the principles of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Computed tomography, Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography; Positron Emission Tomography and techniques used for image reconstruction.

External beam radiotherapy: Outline of external beam radiotherapy modelling components; clinical beam characteristics for photons, electrons and protons; mean modeling for radiotherapy treatment planning, lookup table approaches, convolution/pencil beam approaches to treatment planning.

Dosimetry and Radiobiology: Simple radiobiological principles of radiotherapy; dosimetry in healthcare applications; general introduction to biologica l modelling, fractionation and treatment during effects, volume effects. Statistical techniques of biological model data fitting; data fits using real clinical normal tissue data, using model prediction data.


Teaching and Learning Strategies

Teaching Method 1 - Lecture
Description: Lecture
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Teaching Method 2 - Tutorial
Description: Tutorial
Attendance Recorded: Yes
Teaching Method 3 - Seminar
Description: Seminar
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Teaching Method 3 - Other


Teaching Schedule

  Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
Study Hours 28

  4

    12

44
Timetable (if known)              
Private Study 106
TOTAL HOURS 150

Assessment

EXAM Duration Timing
(Semester)
% of
final
mark
Resit/resubmission
opportunity
Penalty for late
submission
Notes
             
CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
(Semester)
% of
final
mark
Resit/resubmission
opportunity
Penalty for late
submission
Notes
Continuous assessment 1: Treatment Plan  1500 words plus tabl    60       
Literature project  1500 words    30       
short reports on four seminars. Score either 100% or 0.  typically 200 words    10       

Recommended Texts

Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.