Linear Accelerators for Radiation Therapy

This textbook for graduates in medical physics and radiation oncology, and for therapy radiographers, focuses on the fundamentals of accelerators, explaining the underlying physics and their different features. Practical examples illustrate the principles involved in operating the machinery.

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"Linear Accelerators for Radiation Therapy", 2nd edition, provides an updated and expanded introduction to this subject for graduate students in medical physics, radiation oncology and for therapy radiographers. The new edition focuses on the fundamentals of accelerator systems, explaining the underlying physics and the different features of such systems. It includes new material on the treatment head, on x-ray production via multileaf and dynamic collimation for the production of wedged and other intensity modulated beams, and on electron scattering systems. A more detailed description of electron beam optics and linear accelerator components is provided. More basic dosimetry is included and a new final chapter explains how to use other equipment, such as scanners and simulators in conjunction with linear accelerators for optimum treatment of cancers. It explains how to control the size and shape of the radiation field so that it can be matched to the particular patient's needs, how to use computers to monitor and control the accelerator equipment and current methods for calibrating dose monitoring systems.
The material is clearly laid out, and the authors use practical examples to illustrate the principles involved in operating the machinery throughout the book.