CSB049 Radiation Therapy Planning 2
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| Unit code: | CSB049 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | CSB037 and CSB038 and CSB039 and CSB090 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $1,118 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $4,104 |
| International unit fee | $4,488 |
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Gardens Point, Internal
| Unit code: | CSB049 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | CSB037 and CSB038 and CSB039 and CSB090 |
| Coordinator: | Crispen Chamunyonga | crispen.chamunyonga@qut.edu.au |
Overview
Treatment planning is an essential component of radiation therapy, and understanding of treatment planning techniques is essential. This unit builds on the planning experience gained in previous units to concentrate on application of more in-depth knowledge of treatment planning practice. In order to further prepare you for clinical planning, a range of challenging plans will be completed using clinical data sets and planning techniques. This will consolidate your understanding of advanced planning concepts and pave the way for progression to more advanced planning techniques in Year 3. You will need to gain high levels of plan evaluation skills in order to become a competent treatment planner and this unit provides you with the opportunity to further develop plan evaluation skills. This unit also aims to further develop critical appraisal and plan evaluation skills.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Utilise treatment planning systems to design and optimise dose distributions for radiation therapy planning techniques (MRPBA Domains 1c.1a, 1c.2a, 1c.2c, 1c.3a, 1c.3b, 1c.3c, 1c.3d, 1c.3e)
- Apply knowledge of dosimetry principles and critical appraisal of literature to evaluate a range of planning techniques (MRPBA Domains 1c.3a, 1c.3b, 1c.3e)
- Evaluate the importance of normal tissue sensitivity and patient quality of life factors on treatment planning and clinical decision making (MRPBA Domains 1c.3a, 1c.3b)
- Explain the theoretical basis for treatment planning and evaluation tools and criteria (MRPBA Domains 1c.3a, 1c.3b, 1c.3c, 1c.3d, 1c.3e, 5.3c)
Content
Multiphase planning
3D visualisation and planning tools
Sequential and Simultaneous Integrated Boost planning
Plan optimisation and evaluation
Radiobiology
Planning objectives and constraints
Specific sites may include: Thorax, Head and Neck, Brain and Pelvis
Heterogeneity correction / density overrides
Non-coplanar planning
Forward and inverse planning concepts, e.g. IMRT and VMAT
Relates to learning outcomes
These learning outcomes address elements of the domains for the professional capabilities for medical radiation practice for the Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia (MRPBA).
Each learning outcome is mapped to the relevant professional capability as demonstrated.
Learning Approaches
This unit adopts a blended delivery process which integrates face to face learning experiences with enriched software virtual environments in a simulation laboratory, for example, computer laboratory practicals utilising treatment planning software for Pinnacle and Monaco treatment planning systems. The practical sessions will utilise the treatment planning systems to provide you with the opportunity to develop authentic practical planning skills.
The lectures will introduce you to key concepts relating to the principles and practice of treatment planning. These lectures will be complemented with regular practical sessions to consolidate your understanding. Problem-based learning will challenge you to apply your knowledge and understanding to realistic clinical situations for a range of tumour sites. The Virtual Environment for Radiotherapy Training (VERT) simulation will be used to display your plans and assist you in evaluation of your work. You will be expected to integrate feedback from previous plan evaluations and start to provide critical appraisal of the evidence base in your work.
This unit requires you to engage with the Canvas on-line learning environment, where additional information will be provided in the QUT Readings, links to relevant internet sites and other electronic resources will be located on Canvas.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Formative feedback is provided throughout the semester, where work is reviewed and assessed. Feedback will aim to provide students with suggestions for further development of academic skills as well as suggestions for further study where appropriate.
Assessment
Overview
Assessment tasks will require you to provide evidence of your knowledge, skills and application of treatment planning concepts of Radiation Therapy, in a variety of formats, which are aligned with the learning outcomes of the unit and course.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Problem Solving Task
You will be required to produce and lock a treatment plan on an assigned treatment site.
Assessment: Critique (written)
You will provide a plan evaluation of the treatment plan produced with reference to a range of literature.
This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.
Assessment: Examination (written)
End of semester written examination.
Academic Integrity
Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.
Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Additional resources are located on the Canvas site for this unit.
Resource Materials
Recommended text(s)
Khan, F. M., Gibbons, J. P., Jr, & Sperduto, P. W. (2016). Khan's treatment planning in radiation oncology (Fourth ed.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer.
Khan, F., Gibbons, J.P. (2014). The Physics of Radiation Therapy (5th ed.). Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins.
Reference book(s)
A range of literature from journals including:
1. International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics
2. Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice
3. Medical Dosimetry
4. Radiotherapy and Oncology
5. Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences (JMRS)
Hall, Eric J., and Amato J. Giaccia. Radiobiology for the Radiologist . Eighth edition., Wolters Kluwer, 2019.
International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements. (1999). Prescribing, Recording and Reporting Photon Beam Therapy. Supplement to ICRU Report 50. (ICRU Report 62).
International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements. (2010). Prescribing, Recording and Reporting Photon-Beam Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (ICRU Report 83).
Xia, P., Godley, A., Shah, C., Videtic, G. M. M., & Suh, J. (Eds.). (2018). Strategies for radiation therapy treatment planning. ProQuest Ebook
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out-of -the-ordinary risks associated with this unit.
Standards/Competencies
This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.
MRPBA Professional Capabilities 2020
Domain 1C: Radiation therapist
Relates to: ULO1
Relates to: ULO1
Relates to: ULO1
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, ULO4
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, ULO4
Relates to: ULO1, ULO4
Relates to: ULO1, ULO4
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO4
Domain 5: Radiation safety and risk manager
Relates to: ULO4
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.CS49 Bachelor of Radiation Therapy
- Principles and applications of radiation therapy
Relates to: Problem Solving Task, Critique (written), Examination (written) - Treatment Planning
Relates to: Problem Solving Task, Critique (written), Examination (written) - Research skills and methods
Relates to: Critique (written) - Treatment Planning
Relates to: Problem Solving Task, Critique (written), Examination (written)
CS50 Bachelor of Radiation Therapy (Honours)
- Principles and application of radiation therapy
Relates to: Problem Solving Task, Critique (written), Examination (written) - Treatment Planning
Relates to: Problem Solving Task, Critique (written), Examination (written) - Research appraisal and critique skills
Relates to: Critique (written) - Treatment Planning
Relates to: Problem Solving Task, Critique (written), Examination (written)