- Email: [email protected]
Principles and Practice of Radiation Therapy
Radiography (2009) 15, 357e358
available at www.sciencedirect.com
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/radi
BOOK REVIEWS C.M. Washington, D. Leaver, Principles and Practice of Radiation Therapy, 3rd ed. Mosby Elsevier, 2009, 984 pp., Hardback, ISBN: 978-0-323-05362-4. Washington and Leaver’s 3rd edition of ‘Principles and Practice of Radiation Therapy’ claims to be ‘the only text that covers everything the radiation therapist needs to know’. Textbooks of this nature are always ambitious projects as it can be difficult to do justice to the wide ranging and complex issues associated with the technical aspects, clinical management considerations and professional issues of radiotherapy care. This book however is largely successful in its endeavours to provide a holistic perspective of radiotherapy. The authors have addressed all pertinent aspects of clinical practice and have produced a text that is both patient-focused and technically detailed. There is a clear focus on the fundamental knowledge that underpins radiotherapy practices including topics as diverse as surface anatomy, applied mathematics and dosimetry. There is detailed information regarding the practical use of imaging within radiotherapy addressing the routine technologies and applications of CT, MR and PET within the radiotherapy chain. The majority of advanced radiotherapy techniques and treatment options are dealt with in sufficient detail with the exception of particle radiotherapy. A particular strength of this book is not only the clarity of the way in which it deals with the design and use of equipment, but also the way it applies this information to describe the process of radiotherapy simulation, treatment planning and delivery. This book is produced by American authors and many of the chapters focus on practices peculiar to the American healthcare model. Necessarily this will render some aspects of the book of limited use to those of us working in the UK. (For example Chapter 9 deals with the specifics of radiotherapy education in the USA). This text has been carefully written with the students of radiotherapy (radiographers, physicists and clinicians) clearly in mind. The use of section summaries, clinical case studies and key-points boxes coupled with questions to direct further learning provides the reader with structured learning opportunities that meets the pedagogical aims set out at the beginning of the text. The sections dealing with fundamental aspects of practical radiotherapy such as depth dose calculations are particularly well covered. This is a comprehensive textbook that will be of use to those working in the field of radiotherapy which goes some way to providing a one-stop reference for most
aspects of clinical practice and the theory of radiation therapy. Nick White* Division of Radiography (Diagnostic and Radiotherapy), Birmingham City University, Birmingham B42 2SU, UK *Tel.: þ44 121 331 6210. E-mail address: [email protected] doi:10.1016/j.radi.2009.06.002
Euclid Seeram, Computed tomography: physical principles, clinical applications, and quality control, 3rd ed. Publishers: Saunders/Elsevier, 2009, 536 pages (including appendices & index), Cost: £51.99p: Paperback, ISBN -978-14160-2295-6. Intended to meet the educational requirements of several international professional bodies, including the Society and College of Radiographers. This 3rd edition of this text would be well placed in any CT imaging department reference section and on the essential reading/purchase list of any under or postgraduate course that includes CT. Assuming no prior knowledge of CT, the book covers the basics and history of CT. It is also up to date, (as any text book can be), drawing on current research and leading manufactures’ latest developments in multi slice CT. Very clearly written and illustrated with a logical progression through the history and developments of this highly complex imaging modality from the mechanics to specialist software. The chapters build on the basics so that by the end of the book the later more complex issues can be appreciated. The emphasis is on features/ functions of CT that can be controlled by the operator to improve image quality, reduce radiation dose and optimise images. The later chapters cover examples of current clinical practice and Quality Control e what can be done to improve not just identify sub optimal images. The text stays within the remit of covering the principles and indicates where further detailed reading on specialist topics can be located. Each chapter has its own reference list. The book also has a linked www site with further useful resources and information (http:// elsevier.com). ‘‘Read on, learn, and enjoy. Your patients will benefit from your wisdom’’ (p. xv Preface to book)
available at www.sciencedirect.com
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/radi
BOOK REVIEWS C.M. Washington, D. Leaver, Principles and Practice of Radiation Therapy, 3rd ed. Mosby Elsevier, 2009, 984 pp., Hardback, ISBN: 978-0-323-05362-4. Washington and Leaver’s 3rd edition of ‘Principles and Practice of Radiation Therapy’ claims to be ‘the only text that covers everything the radiation therapist needs to know’. Textbooks of this nature are always ambitious projects as it can be difficult to do justice to the wide ranging and complex issues associated with the technical aspects, clinical management considerations and professional issues of radiotherapy care. This book however is largely successful in its endeavours to provide a holistic perspective of radiotherapy. The authors have addressed all pertinent aspects of clinical practice and have produced a text that is both patient-focused and technically detailed. There is a clear focus on the fundamental knowledge that underpins radiotherapy practices including topics as diverse as surface anatomy, applied mathematics and dosimetry. There is detailed information regarding the practical use of imaging within radiotherapy addressing the routine technologies and applications of CT, MR and PET within the radiotherapy chain. The majority of advanced radiotherapy techniques and treatment options are dealt with in sufficient detail with the exception of particle radiotherapy. A particular strength of this book is not only the clarity of the way in which it deals with the design and use of equipment, but also the way it applies this information to describe the process of radiotherapy simulation, treatment planning and delivery. This book is produced by American authors and many of the chapters focus on practices peculiar to the American healthcare model. Necessarily this will render some aspects of the book of limited use to those of us working in the UK. (For example Chapter 9 deals with the specifics of radiotherapy education in the USA). This text has been carefully written with the students of radiotherapy (radiographers, physicists and clinicians) clearly in mind. The use of section summaries, clinical case studies and key-points boxes coupled with questions to direct further learning provides the reader with structured learning opportunities that meets the pedagogical aims set out at the beginning of the text. The sections dealing with fundamental aspects of practical radiotherapy such as depth dose calculations are particularly well covered. This is a comprehensive textbook that will be of use to those working in the field of radiotherapy which goes some way to providing a one-stop reference for most
aspects of clinical practice and the theory of radiation therapy. Nick White* Division of Radiography (Diagnostic and Radiotherapy), Birmingham City University, Birmingham B42 2SU, UK *Tel.: þ44 121 331 6210. E-mail address: [email protected] doi:10.1016/j.radi.2009.06.002
Euclid Seeram, Computed tomography: physical principles, clinical applications, and quality control, 3rd ed. Publishers: Saunders/Elsevier, 2009, 536 pages (including appendices & index), Cost: £51.99p: Paperback, ISBN -978-14160-2295-6. Intended to meet the educational requirements of several international professional bodies, including the Society and College of Radiographers. This 3rd edition of this text would be well placed in any CT imaging department reference section and on the essential reading/purchase list of any under or postgraduate course that includes CT. Assuming no prior knowledge of CT, the book covers the basics and history of CT. It is also up to date, (as any text book can be), drawing on current research and leading manufactures’ latest developments in multi slice CT. Very clearly written and illustrated with a logical progression through the history and developments of this highly complex imaging modality from the mechanics to specialist software. The chapters build on the basics so that by the end of the book the later more complex issues can be appreciated. The emphasis is on features/ functions of CT that can be controlled by the operator to improve image quality, reduce radiation dose and optimise images. The later chapters cover examples of current clinical practice and Quality Control e what can be done to improve not just identify sub optimal images. The text stays within the remit of covering the principles and indicates where further detailed reading on specialist topics can be located. Each chapter has its own reference list. The book also has a linked www site with further useful resources and information (http:// elsevier.com). ‘‘Read on, learn, and enjoy. Your patients will benefit from your wisdom’’ (p. xv Preface to book)