Read an exclusive interview with Dr. Jerry Battista here. A critical element of radiation treatment planning for cancer is the accurate prediction and delivery of a tailored radiation dose distribution inside the patient. Megavoltage x-ray beams are aimed at the tumour, while collateral damage to nearby healthy tissue and organs is minimized. The key to optimal treatment therefore lies in adopting a trustworthy three-dimensional (3D) dose computation algorithm, which simulates the passage of both primary and secondary radiation throughout the exposed tissue. Edited by an award-winning university educator and pioneer in the field of voxel-based radiation dose computation, this book explores the physics and mathematics that underlie algorithms encountered in contemporary radiation oncology. It is an invaluable reference for clinical physicists who commission, develop, or test treatment planning software. This book also covers a core topic in the syllabus for educating graduate students and residents entering the field of clinical physics. This book starts with a historical perspective gradually building up to the three most important algorithms used for today's clinical applications. These algorithms can solve the same general radiation transport problem from three vantages: firstly, applying convolution-superposition principles (i.e. Green's method); secondly, the stochastic simulation of radiation particle interactions with tissue atoms (i.e. the Monte Carlo method); and thirdly, the deterministic solution of the fundamental equations for radiation fields of x-rays and their secondary particles (i.e. the Boltzmann method). It contains clear, original illustrations of key concepts and quantities thoughout, supplemented by metaphors and analogies to facilitate comprehension and retention of knowledge. Features: Edited by an authority in the field, enhanced with chapter contributions from physicists with clinical experience in the fields of computational dosimetry and dose optimization Contains examples of test phantom results and clinical cases, illustrating pitfalls to avoid in clinical applications to radiation oncology Introduces four-dimensional (4D) dose computation, on-line dose reconstruction, and dose accumulation that accounts for tissue displacements and motion throughout a course of radiation therapy

PET and SPECT imaging has improved to such a level that they are opening up exciting new horizons in medical diagnosis and treatment. This book provides a complete introduction to fundamentals and the latest progress in the field, including an overview of new scintillator materials and innovations in photodetector development, as well as the latest system designs and image reconstruction algorithms. It begins with basics of PET and SPECT physics, followed by technology advances and computing methods, quantitative techniques, multimodality imaging, instrumentation, pre-clinical and clinical imaging applications.

This book covers the broad field of cellular, molecular, preclinical, and clinical imaging either associated with or combined with photodynamic therapy (PDT). It showcases how this approach is used clinically for cancer, infections, and diseases characterized by unwanted tissue such as atherosclerosis or blindness. Because the photosensitizers are also fluorescent, the book also addresses various imaging systems such as confocal microscopy and small animal imaging systems, and highlights how they have been used to follow and optimize treatment, and to answer important mechanistic questions. Chapters also discuss how imaging has made important contributions to clinical outcomes in skin, bladder, and brain cancers, as well as in the development of theranostic agents for detection and treatment of disease. This book provides a resource for physicians and research scientists in cell biology, microscopy, optics, molecular imaging, oncology, and drug discovery.

This book provides a first authoritative text on radiochromic film, covering the basic principles, technology advances, practical methods, and applications. It focuses on practical uses of radiochromic film in radiation dosimetry for diagnostic x-rays, brachytherapy, radiosurgery, external beam therapies (photon, electron, protons), stereotactic body radiotherapy, intensity-modulated radiotherapy, and other emerging radiation technologies. The expert authors address basic concepts, advantages, and the main applications including kilovoltage, brachytherapy, megavoltage, electron beam, proton beam, skin dose, in vivo dosimetry, postal and clinical trial dosimetry. The final chapters discuss the state of the art in microbeam, synchrotron radiation, and ultraviolet radiation dosimetry.

This first dedicated overview for beam's eye view (BEV) covers instrumentation, methods, and clinical use of this exciting technology, which enables real-time anatomical imaging. It highlights how the information collected (e.g., the shape and size of the beam aperture and intensity of the beam) is used in the clinic for treatment verification, adaptive radiotherapy, and in-treatment interventions. The chapters cover detector construction and components, common imaging procedures, and state of the art applications. The reader will also be presented with emerging innovations, including target modifications, real-time tracking, reconstructing delivered dose, and in vivo portal dosimetry. Ross I. Berbeco, PhD, is a board-certified medical physicist and Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

Offering the latest information in magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) research, Magnetic Nanoparticles: From Fabrication to Clinical Applications provides a comprehensive review, from synthesis, characterization, and biofunctionalization to clinical applications of MNPs, including the diagnosis and treatment of cancers. This book, written by some of the most qualified experts in the field, not only fills a hole in the literature, but also bridges the gaps between all the different areas in this field. Translational research on tailored magnetic nanoparticles for biomedical applications spans a variety of disciplines, and putting together the most significant advances into a practical format is a challenging task. Balancing clinical applications with the underlying theory and foundational science behind these new discoveries, Magnetic Nanoparticles: From Fabrication to Clinical Applications supplies a toolbox of solutions and ideas for scientists in the field and for young researchers interested in magnetic nanoparticles.

The field of medical imaging seen rapid development over the last two decades and has consequently revolutionized the way in which modern medicine is practiced. Diseases and their symptoms are constantly changing therefore continuous updating is necessary for the data to be relevant. Diseases fall into different categories, even a small difference in symptoms may result in categorising it in a different group altogether. Thus analysing data accurately is of critical importance. This book concentrates on diagnosing diseases like cancer or tumor from different modalities of images. This book is divided into the following domains: Importance of big data in medical imaging, pre-processing, image registration, feature extraction, classification and retrieval. It is further supplemented by the medical analyst for a continuous treatment process. The book provides an automated system that could retrieve images based on user's interest to a point of providing decision support. It will help medical analysts to take informed decisions before planning treatment and surgery. It will also be useful to researchers who are working in problems involved in medical imaging.

Although noninvasive, continuous monitoring of glucose concentration in blood and tissues is one of the most challenging areas in medicine, a wide range of optical techniques has recently been designed to help develop robust noninvasive methods for glucose sensing. For the first time in book form, the Handbook of Optical Sensing of Glucose in Biological Fluids and Tissues analyzes trends in noninvasive optical glucose sensing and discusses its impact on tissue optical properties. This handbook presents methods that improve the accuracy in glucose prediction based on infrared absorption spectroscopy, recent studies on the influence of acute hyperglycemia on cerebral blood flow, and the correlation between diabetes and the thermo-optical response of human skin. It examines skin glucose monitoring by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR), fluorescence-based glucose biosensors, and a photonic crystal contact lens sensor. The contributors also explore problems of polarimetric glucose sensing in transparent and turbid tissues as well as offer a high-resolution optical technique for noninvasive, continuous, and accurate blood glucose monitoring and glucose diffusion measurement. Written by world-renowned experts in biomedical optics and biophotonics, this book gives a complete, state-of-the-art treatise on the design and applications of noninvasive optical methods and instruments for glucose sensing.

Proton and Carbon Ion Therapy is an up-to-date guide to using proton and carbon ion therapy in modern cancer treatment. The book covers the physics and radiobiology basics of proton and ion beams, dosimetry methods and radiation measurements, and treatment delivery systems. It gives practical guidance on patient setup, target localization, and treatment planning for clinical proton and carbon ion therapy. The text also offers detailed reports on the treatment of pediatric cancers, lymphomas, and various other cancers. After an overview, the book focuses on the fundamental aspects of proton and carbon ion therapy equipment, including accelerators, gantries, and delivery systems. It then discusses dosimetry, biology, imaging, and treatment planning basics and provides clinical guidelines on the use of proton and carbon ion therapy for the treatment of specific cancers. Suitable for anyone involved with medical physics and radiation therapy, this book offers a balanced and critical assessment of state-of-the-art technologies, major challenges, and the future outlook of proton and carbon ion therapy. It presents a thorough introduction for those new to the field while providing a helpful, up-to-date reference for readers already using the therapy in clinical settings.

Targeted Molecular Imaging covers the development of novel diagnostic approaches that use an imaging probe and agent to noninvasively visualize cellular processes in normal and disease states. It discusses the concept, development, preclinical studies, and, in many cases, translation to the clinic of targeted imaging agents. The many case studies that form the core of this book deal with the development and translation of non-nuclear probes and radiotracers; other sections address critical topics such as In vitro studies, small animal research, and the application of targeted probes for nuclear, optical and MRI imaging. The chapters use a common format to demonstrate how various investigators approach the comprehensive task of validating a new targeted probe. Targeted Molecular Imaging is a timely resource for a rapidly advancing field, and addresses: Various methods of validating a new targeted probe through examples from human studies with imaging of breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative diseases Basic principles, disease models, imaging studies in animals, imaging in initial human studies, and the application of molecular imaging in pharmacy and drug discovery In vitro studies, small animal studies, and targeted radiopharmaceuticals Using these case studies, investigators can generalize and apply the information to their own specific targeted probe. The insights provided by the contributors, experts who have developed these approaches in their own groups, help guide scientists planning to translate imaging agents from the concept stage to clinical application.

Augmented reality (AR) is transforming how we work, learn, play and connect with the world, and is now being introduced to the field of medicine, where it is revolutionising healthcare as pioneering virtual elements are being added to real images to provide a more compelling and intuitive view during procedures. This book, which had its beginnings at the AE-CAI: Augmented Environments for Computer-Assisted Interventions MICCAI Workshop in Munich in 2015, is the first to review the area of mixed and augmented reality in medicine. Covering a range of examples of the use of AR in medicine, it explores its relevance to minimally-invasive interventions, how it can improve the accuracy of a procedure and reduce procedure time, and how it may be employed to reduce radiation risks. It also discusses how AR can be an effective tool in the education of physicians, medical students, nurses and other health professionals. Features: An ideal practical guide for medical professionals and students looking to understand the implementation, applications, and future of AR Contains the latest developments and technologies in this innovative field Edited by highly respected pioneers in the field, who have been immersed in AR as well as virtual reality and image-guided surgery since their inception, with chapter contributions from subject area specialists working with AR

The first MATLAB (R) programming book written specifically for clinical radiotherapy medical physicists and medical physics trainees, this much-needed book teaches users how to create their own clinical applications using MATLAB (R), as a complement to commercial software particularly when the latter does not cover specific local clinical needs. Chapters explore key radiotherapy areas such as handling volumes, 3D dose calculation, comparing dose distributions, reconstructing treatment plans and their summations, and automated tests for machine quality assurance. Readers will learn to independently analyse and process images, doses, structures, and other radiotherapy clinical data to deal with standard and non-standard situations in radiotherapy. This book will also significantly improve understanding of areas such as data nature, information content, DICOM RT standard, and data flow. It will be an invaluable reference for students of medical physics, in addition to clinical radiotherapy physicists and researchers working in radiotherapy. Features: Includes real clinical medical physics applications derived from actual clinical problems Provides commented MATLAB (R) scripts working with sample data and/or own data matching input requirements Promotes critical thinking and practical problem solving skills

Common factors that lead to treatment failure in head and neck cancer are the lack of tumour oxygenation, the accelerated division of cancer cells during treatment, and radioresistance. These tumour-related challenges and possible ways to overcome them are covered in this book, authored by three medical physicists and a clinical oncologist who explain how different radiobiological findings have led to the development of various treatment techniques for head and neck cancer. Novel treatment techniques as supported by current scientific evidence are comprehensively explored, as well as the major challenges that arise in the retreatment of patients who have already undergone a form of radiotherapy for primary head and neck cancer. Features: Uses an interdisciplinary approach, encompassing clinical aspects of radiotherapy, radiation biology, and medical physics Applies content by relating all radiobiological characteristics to their respective clinical implications Explains the radiobiological rationale for all previous and current clinical trials for head and neck cancer

Authored by a leading educator, this book teaches the fundamental mathematics and physics concepts associated with medical imaging systems. Going beyond mere description of imaging modalities, this book delves into the mechanisms of image formation and image quality common to all imaging systems: contrast mechanisms, noise, and spatial and temporal resolution, making it an important reference for medical physicists and biomedical engineering students. This is an extensively revised new edition of The Physics of Medical X-Ray Imaging by Bruce Hasegawa (Medical Physics Publishing, 1991), and includes a wide range of modalities such as X-ray CT, MRI and SPECT.

Informatics in Medical Imaging provides a comprehensive survey of the field of medical imaging informatics. In addition to radiology, it also addresses other specialties such as pathology, cardiology, dermatology, and surgery, which have adopted the use of digital images. The book discusses basic imaging informatics protocols, picture archiving and communication systems, and the electronic medical record. It details key instrumentation and data mining technologies used in medical imaging informatics as well as practical operational issues, such as procurement, maintenance, teleradiology, and ethics. Highlights Introduces the basic ideas of imaging informatics, the terms used, and how data are represented and transmitted Emphasizes the fundamental communication paradigms: HL7, DICOM, and IHE Describes information systems that are typically used within imaging departments: orders and result systems, acquisition systems, reporting systems, archives, and information-display systems Outlines the principal components of modern computing, networks, and storage systems Covers the technology and principles of display and acquisition detectors, and rounds out with a discussion of other key computer technologies Discusses procurement and maintenance issues; ethics and its relationship to government initiatives like HIPAA; and constructs beyond radiology The technologies of medical imaging and radiation therapy are so complex and computer-driven that it is difficult for physicians and technologists responsible for their clinical use to know exactly what is happening at the point of care. Medical physicists are best equipped to understand the technologies and their applications, and these individuals are assuming greater responsibilities in the clinical arena to ensure that intended care is delivered in a safe and effective manner. Built on a foundation of classic and cutting-edge research, Informatics in Medical Imaging supports and updates medical physicists functioning at the intersection of radiology and radiation.

Forensic imaging with multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and other cross-sectional imaging modalities is a rapidly evolving field. Understanding the pathological basis of disease and death is fundamental to the interpretation of radiologic images. Forming a bridge between these distinct disciplines, Essentials of Forensic Imaging: A Text-Atlas brings the long tradition of radiologic pathologic correlation to forensic radiology and autopsy. Providing readers with a technical and interpretive foundation for applying modern cross-sectional imaging to forensic autopsy, the book integrates more than 300 color autopsy photographs with postmortem MDCT and radiography in a topical format. Organized by cause of death, the rich pictorial display of case material that accompanies the text establishes a contextual understanding. Readers can learn the diagnostic value of imaging applied to forensic autopsy by correlating specific causes of death with their respective forensic and radiologic principles. Causes of death covered in this practical volume include: Gunshot wounds Blunt force injury Fire and burn injury Blast injury Drowning and other deaths in water Suicide Natural causes Asphyxia Electrocution As forensic imaging becomes more advanced, the possibilities for its use in autopsy continue to grow, as do the opportunities for application in related areas. In the final chapter, these expert authors also discuss the use of MDCT in the assessment of medical intervention, exhumation and second autopsy, and anthropology.

Hadron therapy is a groundbreaking new method of treating cancer. Boasting greater precision than other therapies, this therapy is now utilised in many clinical settings and the field is growing. More than 50 medical facilities currently perform (or are planned to perform) this treatment, with this number set to double by 2020. This new text covers the most recent advances in hadron therapy, exploring the physics, technology, biology, diagnosis, clinical applications, and economics behind the therapy. Providing essential and up-to-date information on recent developments in the field, this book will be of interest to current and aspiring specialists from a wide range of backgrounds. Features: Multidisciplinary approach: explores the physics, IT (big data), biology, clinical applications from imaging to treatment, clinical trials, and economics associated with hadron therapy Contains the latest research and developments in this rapidly evolving field, and integrates them into the current global challenges for radiation therapy Edited by recognised leaders in the field, including the co-ordinator of ENLIGHT (the European Network for Light Ion Hadron Therapy), with chapter contributions from international leading experts in the field

Image-Guided Radiation Therapy presents key image-guided radiation treatment (IGRT) technologies for external beam radiotherapy. The book explores the decades-long technological developments that have occurred in the realm of image-guided conformal, customized radiation treatment. Expert authors, all of whom have actively participated in the development or implementation of IGRT, imaging, and enabling technologies, share their first-hand experiences on the science, clinical uses, and impact of these technologies. They describe kilovoltage and megavoltage imaging as well as radiological, ultrasound, and optical technologies for determining and validating target and patient positioning. The book examines how anatomical and biological imaging using CT and PET has contributed to the understanding of target volume boundaries and biological behavior. It also explores such innovations as 4D PET/CT and digital tomosynthesis. Advancing patient care, this book focuses on a wealth of hybrid IGRT technologies and devices for coupled imaging and treatment inside the radiation treatment room. It thoroughly covers the modalities, software tools, and imaging treatment geometries that constitute IGRT.

Propelling quantitative MRI techniques from bench to bedside, Quantitative MRI in Cancer presents a range of quantitative MRI methods for assessing tumor biology. It includes biophysical and theoretical explanations of the most relevant MRI techniques as well as examples of these techniques in cancer applications. The introductory part of the book covers basic cancer biology, theoretical aspects of NMR/MRI physics, and the hardware required to form MR images. Forming the core of the book, the next three parts illustrate how to characterize tissue properties with endogenous and exogenous contrast mechanisms and discuss common image processing techniques relevant for cancer. The final part explores emerging areas of MR cancer characterization, including radiation therapy planning, cellular and molecular imaging, pH imaging, and hyperpolarized MR. Each of the post-introductory chapters describes the salient qualitative and quantitative aspects of the techniques before proceeding to preclinical and clinical applications. Each chapter also contains references for further study. Leading the way toward more personalized medicine, this text brings together existing and emerging quantitative MRI techniques for assessing cancer. It provides a self-contained overview of the theoretical and experimental essentials and state of the art in cancer MRI.

Offering the latest information in magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) research, this book builds upon the success of the first volume and provides an updated and comprehensive review, from synthesis, characterization, and biofunctionalization to clinical applications of MNPs, including the diagnosis and treatment of cancers. The book captures some of emerging research area which was not available in the first volume. Good Manufacturing Practices and Commercialization of MNPs are also included. This volume, also written by some of the most qualified experts in the field, incorporates new developments in the literature, and continues to bridge the gaps between the different areas in this field.

With the development of rapidly increasing medical imaging modalities and their applications, the need for computers and computing in image generation, processing, visualization, archival, transmission, modeling, and analysis has grown substantially. Computers are being integrated into almost every medical imaging system. Medical Image Analysis and Informatics demonstrates how quantitative analysis becomes possible by the application of computational procedures to medical images. Furthermore, it shows how quantitative and objective analysis facilitated by medical image informatics, CBIR, and CAD could lead to improved diagnosis by physicians. Whereas CAD has become a part of the clinical workflow in the detection of breast cancer with mammograms, it is not yet established in other applications. CBIR is an alternative and complementary approach for image retrieval based on measures derived from images, which could also facilitate CAD. This book shows how digital image processing techniques can assist in quantitative analysis of medical images, how pattern recognition and classification techniques can facilitate CAD, and how CAD systems can assist in achieving efficient diagnosis, in designing optimal treatment protocols, in analyzing the effects of or response to treatment, and in clinical management of various conditions. The book affirms that medical imaging, medical image analysis, medical image informatics, CBIR, and CAD are proven as well as essential techniques for health care.

The use of small animal models in basic and preclinical sciences constitutes an integral part of testing new pharmaceutical agents prior to their application in clinical practice. New imaging and therapeutic approaches need to be tested and validated first in animals before application to humans. Handbook of Small Animal Imaging: Preclinical Imaging, Therapy, and Applications collects the latest information about various imaging and therapeutic technologies used in preclinical research into a single source. Useful to established researchers as well as newcomers to the field, this handbook shows readers how to exploit and integrate these imaging and treatment modalities and techniques into their own research. The book first presents introductory material on small animal imaging, therapy, and research ethics. It next covers ionizing radiation and nonionizing radiation methods in small animal imaging, hybrid imaging, and imaging agents. The book then addresses therapeutic research platforms and image quantification, explaining how to ensure accurate measurements of high-quality data. It concludes with an overview of many small animal imaging and therapy applications that demonstrate the strength of the techniques in biomedical fields.

This book provides a first comprehensive summary of the basic principles, instrumentation, methods, and clinical applications of three-dimensional dosimetry in modern radiation therapy treatment. The presentation reflects the major growth in the field as a result of the widespread use of more sophisticated radiotherapy approaches such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy and proton therapy, which require new 3D dosimetric techniques to determine very accurately the dose distribution. It is intended as an essential guide for those involved in the design and implementation of new treatment technology and its application in advanced radiation therapy, and will enable these readers to select the most suitable equipment and methods for their application. Chapters include numerical data, examples, and case studies.

Brachytherapy is continuously advancing. Years of accumulated experience have led to clinical evidence of its benefit in numerous clinical sites such as gynecological, prostate, breast, rectum, ocular, and many other cancers. Brachytherapy continues to expand in its scope of practice and complexity, driven by strong academic and commercial research, by advances in competing modalities, and due to the diversity in the political and economic landscape. It is a true challenge for practicing professionals and students to readily grasp the overarching trends of the field, especially of those technologies and innovative practices that are not yet established but are certainly on the rise. Addressing this challenge, Emerging Technologies in Brachytherapy presents a comprehensive collection of chapters on the latest trending/emerging technologies and expert opinions. It is divided into five broad sections: Section I: Physics of Brachytherapy Section II: Imaging for Brachytherapy Guidance Section III: Brachytherapy Suites Section IV: Is Brachytherapy a Competitive Modality? Section V: Vision 20/20: Industry Perspective Each section has a carefully selected collection of chapters, which covers the spectrum of topics in comprehensive detail. By drawing on recognized experts and key opinion leaders from academia and commercial sectors worldwide (100+ contributors), Emerging Technologies in Brachytherapy provides readers with a wealth of relevant information needed to comprehend the rapidly advancing technologies and trends of today and the prospects for the future.

Brachytherapy has become the modality of choice for several cancer localizations, minimizing the possibility of unacceptable risks for healthy tissues and providing a more cost-effective and convenient treatment for patients. Written by leading experts in the physics, development, and implementation of brachytherapy, The Physics of Modern Brachytherapy for Oncology discusses the subject in detail, covering its definition, the basic physics of radiation interaction with matter, radionuclides, sources and source production, calibration and dosimetry protocols as well as experimental dosimetry methods appropriate for practical use. Logically organized, the book begins with basic information, including quantities and units, followed by fundamental atomic and nuclear physics. It also provides the historical background of brachytherapy physics. The next several chapters discuss the radionuclides used in brachytherapy, reflecting upon past (radium), present (iridium or cobalt), and future (ytterbium) methods. The book proceeds to examine source calibration and dosimetry protocols for dose rate calculation while the final chapters explore more recent processes, including Monte Carlo-aided, experimental, and gel dosimetry. The appendices provide useful tables of isotopes, unit conversions and physical constants, brachytherapy sources, TG-43 and TG-43 U1 data tables, and dose rate tables. Detailing the physics behind brachytherapy treatment, The Physics of Modern Brachytherapy for Oncology is essential reading for researchers, practicing radiation oncologists, and medical physicists who want to keep abreast of the developments in this changing field as well as for postgraduate students in medical physics.