Structural Shielding Design for Medical X-ray Imaging Facilities


Book Description

Report No. 147 (2004) presents recommendations and technical information related to the design and installation of structural shielding for facilities that use x rays for medical imaging. The purpose of structural shielding is to limit radiation exposure to employees and members of the public. The information supersedes the recommendations that address such facilities in NCRP Report No. 49, Structural Shielding Design and Evaluation for Medical Use of X Rays and Gamma Rays of Energies Up to 10 MeV, which was issued in September 1976. NCRP Report No. 147 includes a discussion of the various factors to be considered in the selection of appropriate shielding materials and in the calculation of barrier thicknesses. The Report presents the fundamentals of radiation shielding, discusses shielding design goals for controlled and uncontrolled areas in or near x-ray imaging facilities and defines the relationship of these goals to the NCRP effective dose limits for radiation workers and members of the public. The Report includes a detailed discussion of the recommended shielding design methodology for x-ray imaging facilities and provides an extensive collection of shielding data and sample shielding calculations for various types of x-ray imaging facilities. The Report is mainly intended for those individuals who specialize in radiation protection. However, it will also be of interest to architects, hospital administrators and related professionals concerned with the planning of new facilities that use x rays for medical imaging.




Radiotherapy Facilities


Book Description

This publication provides guidelines on how to plan a radiotherapy facility in terms of the strategic master planning process including the legal, technical and infrastructure requirements. It outlines a risk assessment methodology and a typical project work plan, and describes the professional expertise required for the implementation of such a project. Generic templates for a block design are suggested, which include possibilities for future expansion. These templates can be overlaid onto the designated site such that the most efficient workflow between the main functional areas can be ensured. A sample checklist is attached to act as a guideline for project management and to indicate the critical stages in the process where technical expert assistance may be needed. The publication is aimed at professionals and administrators involved in infrastructure development, planning and facility management, as well as engineers, building contractors and radiotherapy professionals.




Structural Shielding Design and Evaluation for Megavoltage X- and Gamma-ray Radiotherapy Facilities


Book Description

The purpose of radiation shielding is to limit radiation exposures to members of the public and employees to an acceptable level. This Report presents recommendations and technical information related to the design and installation of structural shielding for megavoltage x- and gamma-ray radiotherapy facilities. This information supersedes the recommendations in NCRP Report No. 49 (NCRP, 1976) pertaining to such medical radiotherapy facilities. Since the publication of NCRP Report No. 49, many facilities have been designed for accelerating voltages greater than the 10 MV maximum that was covered in that report. Hence recent designs have had to refer to NCRP Report No. 51 (NCRP, 1977) and NCRP Report No. 79 (NCRP, 1984) in order to account for the higher accelerating voltages and the concomitant production of neutrons. In addition, the use of barriers constructed with composite materials has become commonplace. This Report includes the necessary information for these higher accelerating voltages as well as a discussion of the various factors to be considered in the selection of appropriate shielding materials and in the calculation and evaluation of barrier thicknesses (Sections 1 through 6). Section 7 presents an extensive set of sample calculations, Appendices A and B provide supporting data figures and tables, respectively, and Appendix C discusses neutron monitoring for radiotherapy facilities. This Report is mainly intended for those individuals who specialize in radiation protection, but it will also be of interest to architects, hospital administrators, and related professionals concerned with the planning of new radiotherapy facilities.




Shielding Techniques for Radiation Oncology Facilities


Book Description

A textbook for a senior or graduate course in medical or health physics. Students are assumed to be familiar with the radiation- producing devices used in radiation oncology. The second volume corrects some errors detected in the 1998 first, and adds discussions of intensity modulated radiation therapy, CT room design, the design of direct shielded doors, and other topics. Annotation copyrighted by Book News Inc., Portland, OR.




Setting Up a Radiotherapy Programme


Book Description

This publication provides guidance for designing and implementing radiotherapy programmes, taking into account clinical, medical physics, radiation protection and safety aspects. It reflects current requirements for radiotherapy infrastructure in settings with limited resources. It will be of use to professionals involved in the development, implementation and management of radiotherapy programmes




Physics in Radiation Oncology Self-Assessment Guide


Book Description

This guide & companion to the Radiation Oncology Self-Assessment Guide is a comprehensive physics review for anyone in the field of radiation oncology looking to enhance their knowledge of medical physics. It covers in depth the principles of radiation physics as applied to radiation therapy along with their technical and clinical applications. To foster retention of key concepts and data, the resource utilizes a user-friendly ìflash cardî question and answer format with over 800 questions. The questions are supported by detailed answers and rationales along with reference citations for source information. The Guide is comprised of 14 chapters that lead the reader through the radiation oncology physics field, from basic physics to current practice and latest innovations. Aspects of basic physics covered include fundamentals, photon and particle interactions, and dose measurement. A section on current practice covers treatment planning, safety, regulations, quality assurance, and SBRT, SRS, TBI, IMRT, and IGRT techniques. A chapter unique to this volume is dedicated to those topics in diagnostic imaging most relevant to radiology, including MRI, ultrasound, fluoroscopy, mammography, PET, SPECT, and CT. New technologies such as VMAT, novel IGRT devices, proton therapy, and MRI-guided therapy are also incorporated. Focused and authoritative, this must-have review combines the expertise of clinical radiation oncology and radiation physics faculty from the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute. Key Features: Includes more than 800 questions with detailed answers and rationales A one-stop guide for those studying the physics of radiation oncology including those wishing to reinforce their current knowledge of medical physics Delivered in a ìflash cardî format to facilitate recall of key concepts and data Presents a unique chapter on diagnostic imaging topics most relevant to radiation oncology Content provided by a vast array of contributors, including physicists, radiation oncology residents, dosimetrists, and physicians About the Editors: Andrew Godley, PhD, is Staff Physicist, Department of Radiation Oncology, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland OH Ping Xia, PhD, is Head of Medical Physics and Professor of Molecular Medicine, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH.




Radiation Shielding for Diagnostic Radiology


Book Description

The first edition of this book was published in 2000 and it has become the standard for shielding design in the UK. The second edition is designed to be a compendium of information for radiation protection physicists involved in specification of shielding requirements for X-Ray facilities.




Proton Therapy Physics


Book Description

Proton Therapy Physics goes beyond current books on proton therapy to provide an in-depth overview of the physics aspects of this radiation therapy modality, eliminating the need to dig through information scattered in the medical physics literature. After tracing the history of proton therapy, the book summarizes the atomic and nuclear physics background necessary for understanding proton interactions with tissue. It describes the physics of proton accelerators, the parameters of clinical proton beams, and the mechanisms to generate a conformal dose distribution in a patient. The text then covers detector systems and measuring techniques for reference dosimetry, outlines basic quality assurance and commissioning guidelines, and gives examples of Monte Carlo simulations in proton therapy. The book moves on to discussions of treatment planning for single- and multiple-field uniform doses, dose calculation concepts and algorithms, and precision and uncertainties for nonmoving and moving targets. It also examines computerized treatment plan optimization, methods for in vivo dose or beam range verification, the safety of patients and operating personnel, and the biological implications of using protons from a physics perspective. The final chapter illustrates the use of risk models for common tissue complications in treatment optimization. Along with exploring quality assurance issues and biological considerations, this practical guide collects the latest clinical studies on the use of protons in treatment planning and radiation monitoring. Suitable for both newcomers in medical physics and more seasoned specialists in radiation oncology, the book helps readers understand the uncertainties and limitations of precisely shaped dose distribution.




Radiation Physics for Medical Physicists


Book Description

This book summarizes basic knowledge of atomic, nuclear, and radiation physics that professionals need for efficient and safe use of ionizing radiation. Concentrating on the underlying principles of radiation physics, it covers prerequisite knowledge for medical physics courses on the graduate and post-graduate levels, providing the link between elementary physics on the one hand and the intricacies of the medical physics specialties on the other.




Radiation Shielding


Book Description

This newly published book is intended for dual use as a textbook for students in radiation shielding courses and a reference work for shielding practitioners. It emphasizes the principles behind techniques used in various aspects of shield analysis and presents these principles in many different contexts. This approach is intended to provide a strong base of understanding in order to facilitate use of the large shielding codes that have come to dominate shielding design and analysis. An assumption is made that the reader has an understanding of mathematics through basic calculus and vector analysis as well as a knowledge of the nuclear physics of radioactive decay. For most chapters, problem sets are provided.