Latest Talking point
Talking point RSS feedImproving patient safety: ongoing efforts
Aug 13, 2010
What's being done to improve patient safety in radiation therapy and diagnostic imaging?
A capital week for Canadian medical physicists
Jul 16, 2010
The Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists held its annual scientific meeting last month in Ottawa. Malcolm McEwen of the National Research Council Canada reports on the event's highlights.
Molecular imaging targets angiogenesis analysis
Jul 2, 2010
Molecular imaging modalities offer potential for assessing angiogenic response and monitoring therapeutic angiogenesis. Yale University's Lawrence W Dobrucki and co-authors review recent process.
Proton therapy: scattering versus scanning
May 28, 2010
Varian's Marcel Marc and Armin Langenegger take a look at the pros and cons of scattering- and scanning-based proton therapy techniques.
Radiotherapy safety: the key role of QA
Apr 29, 2010 (1 comment)
To prevent radiation therapy errors and accidents, quality assurance programmes must be appropriately structured and independently audited, recommends MD Anderson's Geoffrey Ibbott.
WIMP 2010: a cool connection
Mar 30, 2010
Last month, around 60 physicists attended the Winter Institute of Medical Physics, to catch up on the latest developments in radiotherapy and medical imaging, and hone their snowboarding and skiing skills alongside.
MR-guidance: the next step for IGRT?
Feb 25, 2010
As imaging becomes an indispensable part of the radiotherapy process, will MR-guided treatment prove the way forward?
Molecular imaging: a cancer biomarker
Jan 19, 2010
As cancer therapies become increasingly individualized, functional and molecular imaging can play a key role in directing treatment and monitoring early response. David Mankoff from the University of Washington explains.
Proton therapy: future directions
Dec 16, 2009
What does the future hold for proton therapy, and which technologies will enable its progression? An expert panel discusses.
Mammography CAD: more than a perception aid
Nov 17, 2009
CAD technology should operate with at least the same performance level as an expert reader. Nico Karssemeijer discusses steps in this direction.
Latest Editorial articles
Editorial articles RSS feedMedical isotope supplies: a game plan for the future
Dec 8, 2008 (1 comment)
A Canadian task force has identified a promising alternative method for making large quantities of Mo-99, using natural uranium and photons from a high-power accelerator.
Medical physicists: preparing for change
Oct 27, 2008 (6 comments)
As the boundaries between medical disciplines become increasingly blurred and those between diagnosis, therapy and management follow suit, how can medical physicists adapt to these changing needs?
Radiotherapy: challenges old and new
Sep 24, 2008
Long-standing tasks such as dealing with organ motion, as well as the new challenges arising from state-of-the-art beam-delivery systems, were the talk of this year's ESTRO meeting.
Ionizing radiation: the double-edged sword
Aug 15, 2008
With cancer survivors now younger and living longer, it's pertinent to ask whether recent advances in conformal radiotherapy modalities come at a latent cost.
High-performance computing: shaping medicine's future
Jul 14, 2008
Tools such as grid networks and supercomputers will play a vital supporting role in biomedical research and clinical development.
Cellular imaging draws disciplines together
Jun 10, 2008
The traditionally diverse disciplines of biology and physics are finding common ground in the effort to image cellular functions.
Particle therapy: protons and beyond
May 14, 2008
Most particle-therapy treatments are performed using proton beams; but could carbon ions ever become a practical alternative?
Optical imaging comes to the fore
Apr 17, 2008
Optics-based techniques such as fluorescence and Raman imaging are poised to play a bigger role in cancer diagnostics.
Setting the standards for IMRT
Mar 20, 2008 (1 comment)
Wide variations in dose prescription and delivery between institutions highlight the pressing need for universal IMRT planning and reporting guidelines.
Technology assessment: why magical thinking won't do
Feb 25, 2008
Newer isn't always better, which is why a rigorous examination of emerging clinical technologies is in everyone's interest.