National Medical Dosimetrist's Day FREE Webinar Descriptions

All webinars are scheduled for 1:00 – 2:00 pm EDT and offer one MDCB credit each.

Monday, August 13: Workflow Management — State of the Art Tools to Improve Both Quality and Workflow for the Dosimetrist
Sponsored by Velocity Medical Solutions

    Presenters:
    Yvette Bellingan, M.Rad (Oncology), Director, Clinical Development, Velocity Medical Solutions
    Michael Crocker, Director, Marketing, Velocity Medical Solutions

    Abstract:
    Contouring defines the radiation oncology treatment. Some love doing it, some hate doing it, and it can be a very time consuming requirement for all. It's also crucially important to the planning process leading to good plans and improved outcomes for the patient.

    The tools are evolving and modern contouring platforms are now doing some amazing things to assist in creating the best structures possible in the minimum time. The most flexible platforms can give the dosimetrist slick manual tools or can automate many functions.

    The purpose of this talk is to highlight where we are and where we are going to facilitate both of these goals.

    Learning objectives:
    • Leveraging the existing tools within the software
    • Manual contouring tools and ease of use
    • Auto segmentation tools and tips on creating atlases
    • Registration tips and tricks for both rigid and deformable fusions
    • Preparing for tools to come such as GRID services available in upcoming release

Tuesday, August 14: The Evolution of Treatment Planning Integration and Future Impact on Clinical Workflow
Sponsored by Elekta

    Presenters:
    Jennifer Markham, CMD, Manager for Product Management, Elekta

    Abstract:
    The volume of information that is used in the treatment planning process has expanded considerably in recent years. Clinical decisions in radiation oncology require rapid access to treatment plans and clinical information. Jennifer Markham, CMD, Product Manager with Elekta discusses how the eventual integration of the Electronic Medical Record and Treatment Planning systems will provide clinicians to unprecedented ability to access comprehensive patient information. The presentation will be comprised of a slide presentation and a live software demonstration.

    Learning objectives:
    • Understand the role of the Electronic Medical Record and Treatment Planning Systems in the Oncology Care process
    • Review the historical and current approach to EMR integration.
    • Present the view of the future and predict impact on clinical workflow and patient care.

Wednesday, August 15: Conquering Contouring — Eclipse and BrachyVision Advanced Contouring Tools
Sponsored by Varian Medical Systems

    Presenters:
    Lorena V. Valente, CMD, Clinical Training Specialist, Varian Medical Systems
    Linda Meachum, MS, CMD, RT(R)(T), Instructor, Clinical Applications, Varian Medical Systems

    Abstract:
    Learn from the presenters' contouring experience with using the Eclipse™ treatment planning system. This webinar will discuss contouring tools and features that will simplify and automate your contouring process.

    Learning objectives:
    In relation to both Eclipse and BrachyVision treatment planning and the contouring workspace, attendees should be able to:
    • Determine how to implement advanced contouring tools to increase efficiency.
    • Explain how the use of automatic catheter detection allows for a quicker planning process & less patient time on the table.
    • Understand how using standardized structure templates improve the efficiency and consistency of contouring

Thursday, August 16: A New Approach to IMRT — Multi-criteria Optimization
Sponsored by RaySearch Laboratories

    Presenter:
    Dayna Bodensteiner, BS, RT(R)(T), CMD, Director of Product Management, RaySearch Americas

    MCO is a new approach to traditional IMRT planning, only offered by the RayStation software produced by RaySearch. MCO's goal is to shorten the planning time while also involving a physician in the key decision making process of navigating dose tradeoffs between critical structures and target volumes. MCO plans create solutions unique to individual organs called Pareto Plans. Once these are created, a physician can adjust weighting between various Pareto Plans, watching the dose update live time. This allows a true understanding of how dose is distributed without a dosimetrist having to completely replan an IMRT case. This webinar will briefly discuss the planning tips and the science behind MCO's novel approach to IMRT planning.

Friday, August 17: The Use of Compensator-Based SBRT IMRT with a Flattening Filter Free Beam and Breath Hold Techniques
Sponsored by .decimal®

    Presenter:
    Vladimir Feygelman, PhD, DABR, Department of Radiation Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute

    Abstract:
    The advent of flattening filter free (FFF) wide beams being available on clinical machines opens the door for new treatment possibilities. Coupled with compensator-based IMRT, the ability to deliver a modulated beam in a few seconds is now a real possibility. This might be advantageous for motion management during delivery. This presentation addresses two issues.

    First, since the use of the FFF beams with compensators has not been previously reported, the dosimetric accuracy of this technique has to be evaluated. Dosimetric plan verification was done on a homogeneous phantom and, in addition, the algorithm was tested in the lung density material.

    Second, actual patient treatments have commenced. With the high FFF dose rate it is feasible to produce a full-fledged compensator-based IMRT plan and deliver each beam on a single voluntary moderate expiration breath hold even for hypofractionated (SBRT) treatments. The patient is scanned on a voluntary breath hold. This is the only scan needed for planning. On the treatment machine (TrueBeam) the patient respiration is monitored by the Varian RPM system in the breath hold mode. Once the flat respiratory trace is established, the beam is turned on. Three abdominal patients have been treated so far with no technical issues. Compensator-based high dose rate IMRT appears to be a simple solution to a complex problem of intrafractional organ motion. Even if the breath hold treatment is not feasible due to the patient performance status, an IMRT treatment can be delivered without negative dosimetric interplay effects inherent in the segmented MLC delivery.