ECTS credits ECTS credits: 4.5
ECTS Hours Rules/Memories Student's work ECTS: 74.2 Hours of tutorials: 2.25 Expository Class: 18 Interactive Classroom: 18 Total: 112.45
Use languages Spanish, Galician
Type: Ordinary Degree Subject RD 1393/2007 - 822/2021
Departments: Electronics and Computing, Particle Physics
Areas: Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, Atomic, Molecular and Nuclear Physics
Center Faculty of Physics
Call: Second Semester
Teaching: With teaching
Enrolment: Enrollable
The aim of this subject is the introduction of the student to the Medical Physics concepts and basic skills.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
With respect to "Física Médica", the student will demonstrate:
- That he/she may produce arguments with rational criteria
- That he/she employs new technologies
- That he/she handles basic techniques of dosimetry and image.
1) Fundamentals of radiation-matter interaction
- Charged particle interactions.
Elastic and inelastic scattering.
Breemstrahlung and positron annihilation.
Electronic, nuclear and radiative mass stopping power.
Critical energy. Multiple scattering.
CSDA range.
- Neutral particle interactions.
Mass and linear attenuation coefficients.
Photon interactions:
Compton, Photoelectric, Rayleigh and pair production.
Photonuclear reactions.
Characteristic X-rays. Fluorescence and Auger electrons.
Energy transferred to charged particles.
Neutron interactions:
Elastic, inelastic, capture and fission reactions.
Moderation processes. Sources of neutrons.
2) Radiometry and dosimetry
- Radiometric magnitudes. Fluence. Particle radiance distribution.
- Stochastic and non-stochastics magnitudes in dosimetry. Microdosimetry.
- Kerma. Collision and radiation kerma.
- Energy absorption and energy transferred coefficients.
- Exposition and Kerma.
- Linear Energy Transfer and Cema.
- Absorbed dose.
- Charged particle equilibrium (CPE). Build-up.
- Cavity theory. Bragg-Gray model. Burlin model.
- Dosimetry based in standards of absorbed dose to water (TRS398).
3) Diagnostic radiology
- Introduction to image modalities. Image quality.
- X ray production. Generators and tubes. Beam quality.
- Film based radiology.
- Mamography.
- Fluoroscopy.
- Digital radiology.
- Computed tomography.
- Magnetic nuclear resonance.
- Ultrasound.
- Other image modalities.
- PACS and teleradiology.
- Computer assisted diagnosis.
4) Nuclear Medicine
- Radioactivity, nuclear reactions.
- Radiopharmaceuticals production.
- Gammacamera.
- Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT)
- Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
- Radioisotope therapy.
5) Radiobiology
- Direct and indirect cellular damage by radiation.
- Physical, chemical and biological factors.
- Time scale of effects.
- Stochastic and deterministic effects.
- Multiple target theory and the linear-cuadratic model.
- Radiobiological effectiveness (RBE).
- Tumor control probability (TCP) in radiotherapy.
6) Radiotherapy
- External beams: orthovoltage, cobalt and linac.
- Beam generation and collimation.
- Comissioning and physical characterizaion of the therapy beam.
- Conformal radiotherapy and Intensiy Modulated RadioTherapy (IMRT)
- Treatment Planning Systems
- Braquitherapy
- Proton and ion beam therapy
7) Radiation Protection
- ALARA principle (distance, time and barrier).
- Limiting and operational quantities in radiation protection.
- Dose limits according to national and international regulations.
- Basic legal issues and competent agencies.
Laboratory practical work:
- Dosimetry of X-ray and gamma beams.
- Planar digital radiography and computed tomography with a linear x-ray sensor.
Other activities:
Visit to the University Hospital.
Basic bibliography
- Dance DR, Christofides S, Maidmet ADA, McLean ID, Ng KH: “Diagnostic Radiology Physics”. IAEA 2014.
– Wolbarst AB: “Physics of Radiology”. Medical Physics Publishing. 2005.
- E. B. Podgosark “Dosimetry and Medical Radiation Physics” IAEA 2005
- Pedro Andreo, David T. Burns, Alan E. Nahum, Jan Seuntjens, Frank Herbert Attix “Fundamentals of Ionizing Radiation Dosimetry” John Wiley & Sons (2017)
Additional bibliography:
– Dowsett DJ, Kenny PA, Johnston RE: “The Physics of Diagnostic
Imaging”. Chapman & Hall Medical. 1998.
– Bushberg JT, Seibert JA, Leidholdt EM, Boone JM: “The Essential
Physics of Medical Imaging”. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 2002.
– Wolbarst AB: “Physics of Radiology”. Medical Physics Publishing. 2005.
- F. Khan: "The Physics of radiation therapy". Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 2004.
- K. Bethge et al. “Medical applications of nuclear physics” Springer
2004
- F. H. Attix “Introduction to Radiological Physics and Radiation
Dosimetry” John Wiley & Sons 1986
- H. E. Johns & J. R. Cunnigham “The Physics of Radiology” Charles
C. Thomas Publisher 1983
- W. H. Hallenbeck “Radiation Protection” Lewis Publishers 1994
- Essential nuclear medicine physics. Powsner, Rachel A. Malden :
Blackwell Publishing , cop. 2006. VIII, 206 p. : il. ; 26 cm
- Physics in nuclear medicine. Cherry, Simon R. Philadelphia, PA :
Saunders, c2003. XIII, 523 p. : ill. ; 27 cm
- Basic Physics of Nuclear Medicine.
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Basic_Physics_of_Nuclear_Medicine
- Nuclear Medicine Information.
http://www.nucmedinfo.com/Pages/physic.html
Basic
CB1-That students have proven to possess and understand knowledge in a study area that is part of the basis of general secondary education, and is often found at a level that, while supported by advanced textbooks, also includes some aspects that involve knowledge from the forefront of their field of study.
CB2-That students know how to apply their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and possess the competencies that are often demonstrated through the elaboration and defense of arguments and the resolution of problems within their area of study.
CB3-That students have the ability to collect and interpret relevant data (usually within their area of study) to make judgments that include reflection on relevant social, scientific or ethical issues.
General
CG1-Possess and understand the most important concepts, methods and results of the different branches of physics, with historical perspective of their development.
CG2-Have the capacity to gather and interpret relevant data, information and results, to obtain conclusions and to issue reasoned reports in scientific, technological or other areas that require the use of knowledge of physics.
CG3-Apply both the theoretical and practical knowledge acquired as the capacity of analysis and abstraction in the definition and approach of problems and in the search of their solutions in both academic and professional contexts.
Specific
CE1-Have a good understanding of the most important physical theories, locating in their logical and mathematical structure, their experimental support and the physical phenomenon that can be described through them.
CE2-Be able to clearly handle the orders of magnitude and make appropriate estimates in order to develop a clear perception of situations that, although physically different, show some analogy, allowing the use of known solutions to new problems.
CE3-Become familiar with the most important experimental models, also be able to conduct experiments independently, as well as describe, analyze and critically evaluate the experimental data.
CE4-Be able to compare new experimental data with available models to review its validity and suggest changes that improve the concordance of the models with the data.
CE5-Be able to realize the essentials of a process or situation and establish a model of work of the same as well as to carry out the required approximations in order to reduce the problem to a manageable level. Possess critical thinking to build physical models.
CE6-Understand and master the use of mathematical and numerical methods most commonly used in physics.
CE7-Be able to use computer tools and develop software programs.
CE8-Be able to manage, search and use bibliography, as well as any source of relevant information and apply it to research and technical development projects.
Transversal
CT1-Acquire analysis and synthesis capacity.
CT2-Have organizational capacity and planning.
CT5-Develop critical reasoning.
A course will be activated on the Moodle platform of the Virtual Campus. In this platform the student will have teaching material and complementary resources.
The course consists of 33 hours of teaching with blackboard and 9 hours of interactive work and practice, along with 3 hours of small group tutoring. Each week students will be asked to solve an exercise that will be carried out in the next class in an interactive way (for 30 min).
During the theory classes the basic concepts that will have to be developed in depth by the students in the resolution of exercises and practices will be explained.
The practical classes will consist not only in the development of a work but also in the discussion with the teacher of the results achieved.
The general methodological indications established in the USC Memory of the Degree in Physics will be followed. The classes will be face-to-face with a distribution of expository and interactive hours according to the Physics Degree Report. The tutorials can be both face-to-face and telematic. In the case of being telematic, an appointment will be required.
The student will be able to choose their grade through continuous assessment, which consists of the following assessment elements:
i) Resolution of three face-to-face type tests during the course
ii) Delivery of exercises and assignments
iii) Class attendance and participation
iv) Internship
Or by taking a face-to-face written exam on the dates set out in the Faculty's teaching schedule.
In the case of taking the final exam, the grade will be the maximum grade between the continuous assessment and / or the final exam.
Students will present themselves at the second opportunity by taking a face-to-face written exam on the dates established in the Faculty's teaching program.
Lectures: 45h
Personal work: 67.5h
Total: 112.5h
It is recommended to carry out the exercises proposed for a better follow-up and understanding of the subject. Consultation of the fundamental bibliography and a critical and detailed implementation of the proposed practices is recommended.
Faustino Gomez Rodriguez
Coordinador/a- Department
- Particle Physics
- Area
- Atomic, Molecular and Nuclear Physics
- Phone
- 881813546
- faustino.gomez [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Lecturer
Pablo Garcia Tahoces
- Department
- Electronics and Computing
- Area
- Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence
- Phone
- 881813580
- pablo.tahoces [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Professor
José Paz Martín
- Department
- Particle Physics
- Area
- Atomic, Molecular and Nuclear Physics
- jose.martin [at] usc.es
- Category
- Xunta Pre-doctoral Contract
| Tuesday | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:30-12:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Spanish | Classroom C |
| 05.21.2025 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | 3 (Computer Science) |
| 06.26.2025 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | 3 (Computer Science) |