Latest Talking point
Talking point RSS feedMR-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.
In vivo dosimetry: implementation issues
Oct 28, 2009
In vivo radiotherapy dosimetry has a great deal to offer, so why is it not more widely deployed? Writing in the British Journal of Radiology, Craig Edwards takes a closer look.
Bringing medical physics to the developing world
Sep 25, 2009
Setting up medical physics facilities in developing countries requires not only access to appropriate systems, but also effective training of staff to operate and maintain this equipment. Henry Lawrence discusses his experiences.
Threats to ultra-high-field MRI
Aug 27, 2009
A European directive designed to prevent workers from being exposed to high magnetic fields could potentially have a severe impact on research into MRI, warns Denis Le Bihan.
Radiation therapy risks: prioritizing patient safety
Aug 4, 2009
In a comprehensive review of radiotherapy safety incidents, Jesmin Shafiq and Michael Barton reveal that although errors leading to serious incidents are rare, it's vital that treatment centres implement and continually monitor risk-reducing measures.
Volumetric-modulated arc therapy: its role in radiation therapy
Jun 25, 2009
VMAT is currently a hot topic in radiotherapy. But it's still lacking a universal theory relating the resulting dose distribution and clinical outcome to input parameters, explains Steve Webb.
The potential of PET: a closer look
Jun 8, 2009
PET/CT shows great potential for target delineation in radiation therapy planning. In a recent paper in the journal Academic Radiology, Habib Zaidi reviews progress in molecular-imaging-guided radiotherapy.
Optical modelling points the way to PDT progress
May 14, 2009
Off-the-shelf commercial software is helping scientists to enhance the clinical efficacy of photodynamic therapy for targeted tumour destruction, reports Joe McEntee.
Diagnostic imaging: advancing radiation protection
Apr 15, 2009
Web-enabled QA software tools could help the medical physics community develop a quantitative risk-benefit framework for diagnostic radiology, explains Michael Moores.
IMRT planning: biological models take a central role
Mar 12, 2009
Using tumour control probability models for IMRT planning could enable the ultimate balance between control and toxicity, explains NKI's Marnix Witte.
Clinical implementation: how can IMRT become routine?
Feb 16, 2009 (5 comments)
IMRT offers the potential for superior target coverage and reduced normal-tissue exposure, so why is it not yet the standard radiotherapy modality at all clinical centres? Marco Schwarz discusses.
Computational grids in radiotherapy: optimal IMRT planning
Jan 14, 2009
For the ultimate in radiotherapy treatment planning, try selecting an optimal plan from a large set of quasi-optimal potentials. Such a scheme could be enabled by exploiting the power of a computational grid, argues Dimitri Dimitroyannis.
Disruptive thinking on proton therapy
Dec 22, 2008
TomoTherapy's Rock Mackie believes that disruptive innovation will transform the economics and logistics of proton therapy. Joe McEntee reports on plans to make protons a mainstream treatment option.
IMRT: next move, biological optimization?
Dec 11, 2008
The unique beam-delivery conditions of IMRT offer an opportunity to optimize the biological response of tumour cells to therapeutic irradiation, explains Natalka Suchowerska of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, Australia.
Blue-sky thinking converges on imaging, biology
Nov 6, 2008
Imaging and tumour biology proved to be two of the headline themes at a workshop on the future of physics in radiation oncology. Joe McEntee reports from the keynote session.
VIPER: effective training for medical imaging
Oct 2, 2008
The VIPER tutoring system helps medical imaging students apply what they've learnt and observe the consequences of their actions, reports Tracy Kirkbride, from Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology.
HIFU: a question of guidance
Aug 21, 2008
Image-guidance could well enable the next evolution of high-intensity focused ultrasound. But with which guidance technology? Al Kyle of MedDevice Concepts examines the options.