Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE RAD4135

 
TITLE Clinical Radiotherapy Practice 5: Treatment Planning

 
UM LEVEL 04 - Years 4, 5 in Modular UG or PG Cert Course

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Radiography

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit is designed to enable radiography students to apply theoretical knowledge and skills gained in previous years as well as to help them develop proficiency in competencies related to the treatment planning of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) on the linear accelerator.

The study-unit will include clinical demonstration and practical sessions to help guide students' practice and encourage the development of knowledge, skills and competences. Students will be expected to become competent in Radiotherapy Treatment Planning (RTP) of Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) and Volume Modulated Radiotherapy (VMAT) using computerised radiotherapy Treatment Planning Systems (TPS).

Students attend for 100 hours related to this study-unit during the academic year out of which 80 hours are assigned within both simulated and clinical environments, where students are expected to practice under the supervision of a radiographer, and 20 hours are assigned as student independent study. The lecturers regularly meets the students for tutorials and gives each student feedback while ensuring the development of the required clinical competencies.

At the scheduled periods during the academic year a minimum of two members of staff conduct a clinical examination.

Study-Unit Aims:

The study-unit aims to allow students to develop knowledge, skills and competencies relating to the planning EBRT treatments using IMRT and VMAT.

This study-unit will seek to develop the knowledge and skills required to achieve the following competencies:
- Provide optimised EBRT treatment plans using IMRT and VMAT;
- Critically evaluate EBRT treatment plans;
- Develop RTP protocols.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- Identify the relevant organs at risk, (OARs) for all cancer locations;
- Identify the dose constraints for such OARs and expected side-effects;
- Appraise the principles of inverse planning;
- Apply the concepts of optimisation and justification in Radiotherapy practice;
- Interpret and apply recommendations and guidelines regarding Radiotherapy practice and plan evaluation;
- Identify radiotherapy recommendations, patient setup, planning techniques used for all cancer sites.

2. Skills:
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- Contour relevant OARs;
- Create IMRT and VMAT plans;
- Optimise IMRT and VMAT treatment plans;
- Evaluate the clinical acceptability;
- Design a RTP protocol and justify the protocol based on evidence.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Texts:

- Barret, A, Dobbs J, Morris, S & Roques, T., (2009) Practical Radiotherapy Planning. 4th Ed. Arnold, 2009.
- Hodapp, N. (2012) "The ICRU Report 83: Prescribing, Recording and Reporting Photon-beam Intensity-modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)." Strahlentherapie Und Onkologie 188.1 (2012): 97.
- Bridge, P. & Tipper, DJ. (2017) CT Anatomy for Radiotherapy. 2nd Ed. M&K Publishing

Supplementary Readings:

- Symonds, PR., Mills, JA. &Duxbury, A. (2019). Walter and Miller's Textbook of Radiotherapy: Radiation Physics, Therapy and Oncology 8th Ed. Elsevier
- Beyzadeoglu, M., Ozyigit, G., & Ebruli, C. (2010). Basic Radiation Oncology. Springer Berlin Heidelberg.

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES Please note that a pass in the Clinical Assessment component is obligatory for an overall pass mark to be awarded.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Placement and Independent Study

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Assignment See note below Yes 40%
Clinical Assessment [See Add. Notes] See note below Yes 60%
Note: Assessment due date will be notified by the Faculty/Institute/Centre/School.

 
LECTURER/S Jose Guilherme Couto (Co-ord.)

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit