RSS Feeds

Earth Science

Space Science

Life Science

Fields of Scientific Study

Nanotechnology

Cancer

Definitions of The Fields of Scientific Study

`Monte Carlo` simulations - the future for effective radiotherapy

January 17, 2002

Giving a patient the right dose during radiotherapy is essential if you are going to eradicate a tumour without creating excess damage in the surrounding healthy tissue. The Monte Carlo model is a specialised computer program that accurately simulates the passage of every particle that passes through the radiotherapy accelerator and into the patient during therapy. Using it will enable doctors to eradicate tumours more effectively, while causing less harm to healthy tissue.

Researchers Dr Frank Verhaegen from the National Physical Laboratory and Emiliano Spezi at Velindre Hospital, Cardiff, working on two different projects will present their work today (23 January) on Monte Carlo simulations at the Institute of Physics` Simulation and Modelling Applied to Medicine conference in London. Their programs take into account the exact anatomy of individual patients when optimising radiotherapy treatment plans.

Current systems used to plan radiotherapy for patients with cancer are often based on clever but simplified analytical physical models. The simplification has been needed so that calculations can be carried out at a pace that is useful in clinical practice. But this means that they do not, for example, consider the individual interactions between radiation particles and the patient.

Using the more complex Monte Carlo method is widely believed to be the next step to improve radiotherapy. Readily available computing power applied to recently developed new algorithms now makes this possible. Setting the correct dose during radiotherapy is particularly difficult, when treating a tumour in the head or neck, because that part of the body is made up of a complex mixture of bone, soft tissues and air passages, and the particles behave differently in each material.

Dr Frank Verhaegen from the National Physical Laboratory, Teddington will present work from a pioneering project that involved a research group at the Royal Marsden Hosptial, London. The work led to a highly successful prototype Monte Carlo treatment planning system. He says that the simulation work has progressed so well that the next stage should be a full-scale clinical trial.

Working in the department of medical physics at Velindre Hospital, Cardiff, Emiliano Spezi is using the Monte Carlo technique to improve their predictions of the treatment delivered by the particular machines they have in the hospital. He is also developing Monte Carlo programs that verify the exact dose received by individual patients.

"So far the large amount of computing time required for Monte Carlo technique has limited their use in clinical practice. But I think that the computers and the algorithms are so much better, that within a year or so Monte Carlo will become the standard method of calculation, at least for electron-based radiotherapy" says Spezi.

Institute of Physics

Science Research Departments

	Scientific Explorer's Mind Blowing Science Kit for Young Scientists by Scientific Explorer Mind blowing experiments to delight and educate young scientists! Erupt a color changing volcano. Mix up magic ooze with a mind of its own. Play with sand that never gets wet. Mix safe chemicals and watch colors change before your eyes. You'll amaze yourself and your friends as you explore the science behind these truly remarkable reactions.
	The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book: Boil Ice, Float Water, Measure Gravity-Challenge the World Around You! (Everything Kids Series) by Tom Robinson (Author) Science has never been so easy - or so much fun! With The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book, all you need to do is gather a few household items and you can recreate dozens of mind-blowing, kid-tested science experiments. High school science teach Tom Robinson shows you how to expand your scientific horizons - from biology to chemistry to physics to outer space. You'll discover answers to questions like: Is it possible to blow up a balloon without actually blowing into it? What is inside coins? Can a magnet ever be "turned off"? Do toilets always flush in the same direction? Can a swimming pool be cleaned with just the breath of one person? Get ready to enter the laboratory and learn how to conduct cool experiments, understand scientific terms...
	Scientific Explorer's Disgusting Science - A Kit for Studying the Science of Revolting Things by Scientific Explorer Grow your own friendly germs and fuzzy molds. Mix up a batch of coagulating fake blood. Even make a stinky intestine. learn the science behind unmentionable bodily functions while doing some truly NASTY Experiments. Ages 8+
	The Science Book: Everything You Need to Know About the World and How It Works (National Geographic) by National Geographic (Author), Marshall Brain (Foreword) A delight for the casual reader, yet so complete and wide-ranging that science buffs and students will welcome it, The Science Book encapsulates centuries of scientific thought in one richly illustrated volume. Natural phenomena, revolutionary inventions, and the most up-to-date investigations are explained in detailed text, and 2,000 vivid illustrationsincluding 3-D graphics and pictogramsmake the information even more accessible and amazing to discover. The Science Book offers both a general overview of topics for the browsing reader and more specific information for those seeking deeper insight into a particular subject. Six major sections, ranging from the universe and planet Earth to biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics, encompass everything from microscopic life...
	Scientific Explorer's The Magic Science Wizard's Kit by Scientific Explorer Cast real smoke from your fingertips, make a wizard wand, and whip up color-changing potions in your test tube laboratory. Also included are laminated cards with wizard facts, an instruction booklet with 11 activities, lab equipment, and mysterious wizard powders that will mix together to mystify you!
	Scientific Explorer's Tasty Science Chemistry in the Kitchen Kit by Scientific Explorer Who knew science could taste so good? With this kit, you’ll whip up cupcakes, cookies, candy, and more—all in the name of science! Learn what makes cakes rise, candy crystallize, and more real chemistry happen in the kitchen. Tasty Science is packed with ingredients, recipes, activity cards, a test tube laboratory, and lots more to explore the science of taste.
	The Complete Book of Science, Grades 5-6 by School Specialty Publishing (Author) The Complete Book of Science for grades 5 to 6 teaches children important science skills! Children complete a variety of exercises that help them develop a number of skills in this 352 page workbook. Including a complete answer key this workbook features a user-friendly format perfect for browsing, research, and review. Over 4 million in print! The best-selling Complete Book series offers a full complement of instruction, activities, and information about a single topic or subject area. Containing over 30 titles and encompassing preschool to grade 8 this series helps children succeed in every subject area! ...
	Magic School Bus Journey into the Human Body Science Kit by Young Scientist Club The Magic School Bus and Ms. Frizzle take Young Scientists on a wild ride into the human body with these breathtaking experiments. Young Scientists bend bones, make joints, map taste buds, expand lungs, build a stethoscope, measure lung capacities and heart rates, perform the iodine starch test, spin glitter, simulate synovial fluid, create a human body poster, and much, much more! This exciting kit includes a life-size poster with eight sheets of body part stickers. So put on your seat belts, students, and get ready to discover The Human Body!
	Scientific Explorer's Glow in the Dark Fun Lab Science Kit by Scientific Explorer You will love setting up your own Glow in the Dark Fun Lab. Create a light wand, make your own glow stick, and even generate a human-powered light.
	What Is the World Made Of? All About Solids, Liquids, and Gases (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science, Stage 2) by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld (Author), Paul Meisel (Author) Did you ever walk through a wall? Drink a glass of blocks? Have you ever played with a lemonade doll, or put on milk for socks? This latest addition to the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series introduces the youngest readers to an important science concept: the differences between solids, liquids, and gases. Any child who wants to know why he can't walk through a wall will enjoy Kathleen Zoehfeld's simple text and Paul Meisel's playful illustrations.