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ForwardPhysics I-IV and Principles of Clinical Molecular Imaging (from the RPT Curriculum Supplement Series)
Topics Covered:
Principles of Clinical Molecular Imaging for Radiopharmaceutical Therapy
—Vikas Prasad, MD, PhD
Physics I – Image Acquisition and Quantitation (PET, SPECT)
—Rameshwar Prasad, MS, PhD
Physics II – Instrumentation and Mathematics Pertaining to the Use and Measurement of Radioactivity
—Rameshwar Prasad, MS, PhD
Physics III – Radiation Protection for Radiopharmaceutical Therapies
—Jessica Clements, MS
Physics IV – Regulatory Issues and Standard Operating Procedures
—Jacqueline Esthappan Zoberi, PhD
For presentation descriptions, please see the Program tab.
This activity is available from July 19, 2024, through 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on July 4, 2026.
The content was originally presented and recorded on May 31, 2024 in the Beyond the Beam: A Radiation Oncology Curriculum for Radiopharmaceutical Therapy webinar series, a 15-hour in-depth curriculum supplement resource designed specifically for radiation oncology residents and practicing radiation oncologists who are planning or participating in a radiopharmaceutical therapy (RPT) clinical program. Learn more about the full series.
Target Audience
The activity is designed to meet the interests of radiation oncologists, radiation physicists, dosimetrists, diagnostic radiologists, radiation biologists, medical oncologists and radiation oncology residents.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:
- Explain the role of PET and SPECT in radiopharmaceutical therapy.
- Describe the principles of PET and SPECT imaging.
- Discuss various factors affecting PET and SPECT quantification.
- Differentiate intensity and quality of target (somatostatin receptors, PSMA) expression.
- Discuss new methods for response assessment of radiopharmaceutical therapies.
- Discuss potential values of post-therapy SPECT/CT images in management of patients treated with radiopharmaceuticals.
- Describe the principles of radioactivity decay and measurement.
- Explain the underlying mathematic and counting statistics of radioactivity.
- Discuss various factors instruments used in radioactivity measurement.
- Provide some helpful radiation tips to use when starting a new treatment.
- Review concepts to minimize risk and contamination during and after treatment.
- Describe important requirements for waste management.
- Outline the development of an SOP.
- Describe regulatory requirements and proposed changes.
- Discuss SOPs related to therapy administrations as part of standard or care.
Principles of Clinical Molecular Imaging
Imaging works as a gatekeeper for theranostics. This presentation elucidates the significance of target (PSMA, somatostatin receptors) visualization, quantification and heterogeneity in treatment of patients with Lu-177 DOTATATE and Lu-177 PSMA. Methods for response assessments of Lu-177 PSMA and Lu-177 DOTATATE are also briefly discussed.
Physics I – Image Acquisition and Quantitation (PET, SPECT)
Molecular imaging using PET and SPECT is an increasingly used for cancer diagnosis, treatment, and treatment response evaluation. Recent progress in radiopharmaceutical therapy demands effective and quantitative PET and SPECT imaging application for seeing the cancer targets and visualizing what has been treated. In this presentation, principles of PET and SPECT imaging, challenges and application of quantitation are discussed.
Physics II – Instrumentation and Mathematics Pertaining to the Use and Measurement of Radioactivity
This presentation covers principles of radioactivity and its measurement challenges. Various instruments for measuring and analyzing the radioactivity are also explained.
Physics III – Radiation Protection for Radiopharmaceutical Therapies
This presentation covers some radiation safety basics related to starting up a new radiopharmaceutical therapy program. These include updating the facility radioactive materials license, patient screening and education along with some special situations presented by patients, management of household waste, preparing for treatment day, release criteria, and after-treatment care.
Physics IV – Regulatory Issues and Standard Operating Procedures
This final presentation focuses on the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) as one of a number of tasks for implementing a radiopharmaceutical therapy. In order to develop an SOP, one needs to learn about the therapy, allocate resources, and be familiar with radioactive material use regulations.
- Rameshwar Prasad, MS, PhD, is employed by UT Southwestern Medical Center.
- Vikas Prasad, MD, PhD, is employed by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Dr. Prasad receives honoraria and grant/research funding from Curium and travel expenses from Telix. Dr. Prasad serves as a Pillar Lead with ICPO Academy, is an advisory board member with ENETS and is a faculty member with ESMO.
- Jessica Clements, MS, is employed by the University of Vermont Medical Center and is Owner of Evergreen Medical Physics, LLC. Ms. Clements receives travel expenses from AAPM; honoraria from MTMI; and compensation from the American College of Radiology. Ms. Clements serves in a volunteer role with AAPM and serves as Chair of the Diagnostic Medical Physics Oral Exam Committee with the American Board of Radiology.
- Jacqueline Esthappan Zoberi, PhD, is employed by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Dr. Zoberi serves as education/meeting faculty with ASTRO. Dr. Zoberi serves as Chair of the Education and Training Committee on Medical Physics and is a Board member-at-large with AAPM.
The person(s) above served as the developer(s) of this activity. Additionally, the Education Committee had control over the content of this activity. All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Available Credit
- 4.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education for physicians. ASTRO designates this for a maximum of 4.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
- 4.00 Certificate of AttendanceThis activity was designated for 4.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.
Price
Course Fees:
ASTRO members must log in to the ASTRO website to view and receive the member rate.
Nonmember: $379
Member: $249
Member-in-training: $69
Student/Grad Student/PGY: $69
Postdoctoral Fellow: $69
If you are an ASTRO member from a low or lower-middle income country, as identified by the World Bank, you can receive a 50% discount off your corresponding registration for this activity. Please email [email protected] to inquire about the discount.
Policies:
No refunds, extensions, or substitutions will be made for those participants who, for any reason, have not completed the activity by the expiration date.
Participants using ASTRO Academy activities to satisfy the requirement of a Continuing Certification (MOC) program should verify the credit number and type and availability dates of any activity before making a purchase. No refunds, extensions, or substitutions will be made for participants who have purchased activities that do not align with their MOC requirement.
The activity and its materials will only be available on the ASTRO website until July 4, 2026, regardless of purchase date. At the expiration of the activity, participants will no longer have access to the activity or its materials. ASTRO reserves the right to remove an activity before its expiration date.
Required Hardware/software
One of the two latest versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer or Safari.