Pediatric Radiation Oncology

Dr. Thomas E. Merchant is Chair of Radiation Oncology at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, Baddia J. Rashid Endowed Chair in Radiation Oncology, and former chairman of the Radiation Oncology Discipline, Children's Oncology Group (COG). Dr. Merchant is board certified in Radiation Oncology and received his medical degree from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, Chicago, Illinois and Ph.D. in experimental pathology from the University of Utrecht, The Netherlands. As Chair of Radiation Oncology, Dr. Merchant oversees a department that includes nearly 70 faculty and staff dedicated to pediatric radiation oncology. The focus of his practice and research includes the following diseases: medulloblastoma, ependymoma, craniopharyngioma, and low-grade glioma. His special interests include brain tumors in young children, side effects of radiation therapy, re-irradiation, and proton therapy. He led the development of the St. Jude Red Frog Events Proton Therapy Center. The world's first proton therapy center dedicated solely to the treatment of pediatric cancer patients.

Ewing Sarcoma and DSRCT.- Rhabdomyosarcoma.- Soft-tissue Sarcoma and Osteosarcoma.- Neuroblastoma.- Wilms Tumor.- Retinoblastoma and Rare Solid Tumors.- Glioma.- Medulloblastoma and SPNET.- ATRT.- CNS Germ Cell Tumors.- Ependymoma.- Craniopharyngioma.- Stem Cell Transplantation.- Leukemia/ Lymphoma.- Hodgkin Lymphoma.- Radiation Physics. Proton Therapy.- Localization, Verification, and Anesthesia.- Palliative Care.- Low and Medium Income Countries.- Future Directions.

"This is an excellent complement and fortifies the libraries of both radiation and pediatric oncologists. ... its updates in the rapidly changing molecular landscape of pediatric tumors, and its clear descriptions of the inexorable evolution of radiation technology, make it important reading for students, trainees, and practitioners from all disciplines who treat children with cancer." (Bernadine Rose Donahue, Doody's Book Reviews, June, 2018)

"This book provides an excellent summary of common intracranial and extracranial pediatric malignancies treated with radiation therapy, with a focus on radiation specific treatment guidelines and clinical outcome data. The book is best suited for radiation oncologists or anyone looking for a comprehensive overview of the diagnosis and management strategies for the diseases included." (Bree R. Eaton, Neurosurgery, Vol. 84 (3), March, 2019)