Latest Talking point
Talking point RSS feedCalculation uncertainties undermine dose verification
May 8, 2012
Large uncertainties in calculating the production rate of positron emitters in proton beams undermine PET-based particle therapy verification, explains Frank Verhaegen.
EIT: where is it now and what lies ahead?
Apr 25, 2012
A new review paper examines the current status of electrical impedance tomography, how the technique should be progressed and how best to achieve these developments.
CERN: catalysing collaboration for medical advances
Mar 26, 2012
The ICTR-PHE conference in Geneva saw clinicians and physicists come together to help transfer the benefits of basic scientific research to medicine.
Future prospects for proton therapy
Mar 5, 2012
Technology developments required to optimize tomorrow's proton therapy installations include "five highs and one low", said PSI's Marco Schippers.
Turkey bolsters isotope supplies
Feb 9, 2012
A new facility is about to open outside Ankara that is designed to end Turkey's dependence on importing expensive isotopes for medical use. Michael Banks takes an exclusive tour of the project.
MRI safety: accidents are not inevitable
Jan 10, 2012
With MRI accidents on the increase, what's really needed is a uniform set of MRI safety standards that apply to all providers and which are enforced. Tobias Gilk explains.
SPECT offers big benefits for imaging small animals
Dec 19, 2011
Video report: Freek Beekman describes how high-resolution SPECT systems play an invaluable role in small-animal imaging.
Image guidance: the way forward for radiotherapy
Dec 9, 2011
Video report: Uwe Oelfke explains how image guidance can address the challenges of motion during radiotherapy.
The low-down on molecular imaging
Dec 1, 2011
Video report: Simon Cherry discusses recent progress in molecular imaging and examines how these techniques are increasingly being translated to the clinic.
Laser-based acceleration: designs on proton therapy
Nov 10, 2011
The LIGHT collaboration is investigating laser-based particle acceleration for applications such as proton therapy. Project leader Markus Roth from TU Darmstadt discusses recent progress.
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.