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American Association of Physicists in Medicine
Online help is available Abstract Submission - Category Descriptions

Definitions: Therapy Physics (see also Diagnostic Physics)

Category Sub-Category (if applicable) Definition
Radiobiology A submission that pertains to incorporation of radiobiology in the treatment planning process for either external beam or brachytherapy treatment planning. This category includes use of tumor specific information in planning, radiobiological modeling including TCP, NTCP and EUD calculations .
Particle Therapy
  Heavy Particle Radiation Therapy Subject matter that includes the dosimetry, delivery, and planning, of particle (other than electrons) based therapy.
  Electron Based Radiation Therapy Subject matter that includes the dosimetry, delivery, and planning of electron based therapy. It is imperative that material be novel for this category.
  Neutron Therapy Subject matter that includes the dosimetry, delivery, and planning of neutron based therapy.
External Beam Imaging & Feedback
  Techniques & Tools Any submission that pertains to the use of new or advanced imaging tools or techniques for external beam delivery and verification. Examples include dosimetric assessments or off-line treatment analysis.
  Image Guided Treatment Any submission that pertains to use of imaging to adapt radiotherapy treatments to the mobile patient/target. Examples include EPID's, camera systems and respiratory gating.
Brachytherapy
  General Any aspect of the physics of brachytherapy excluding prostate seed implants, intravascular brachytherapy and high dose rate brachytherapy. Special attention will be paid to submissions on use the use of new isotopes including radiopharmaceuticals.
  Prostate Implants Subject matter that includes the dosimetry, delivery, planning, or verification of prostate seed implants. It is imperative that material be novel for this category.
  Intravascular Subject matter particular to the dosimetry, delivery, and radiation safety related to intravascular brachytherapy. Special attention will be paid to use of recent FDA approved devices for IVB.
  High Dose Rate Subject matter particular to the dosimetry, delivery, and radiation safety related to high dose rate afterloaded brachytherapy.
IMRT
  Planning & Optimization Any submission that pertains to the optimization and planning segment of IMRT, including algorithms. It is imperative that material be novel for this category.
  Delivery Any submission that pertains to the delivery of IMRT. It is imperative that material be novel for this category. Special attention will be paid to use of new delivery systems or comparisons of existing systems.
  Verification/Validation Subject matter on the verification of IMRT delivery including measurements and peripheral calculation methods.
  Quality Assurance Any submission that pertains to quality assurance of IMRT planning systems, delivery systems, or patient-specific plans.
Photon Treatment Planning
  Dose Calculations Subject matter pertaining to new calculation methods for external beam, including commercial algorithms, but not including Monte Carlo or IMRT. Special attention will be paid to calculation methods validated by measurement.
  Improvements in Conventional Treatment Planning Subject matter pertaining to optimization techniques in treatment planning (not IMRT). Special attention will be paid to use of fusion and functional imaging.
  Target Volume Definitions Abstracts related to the application of ICRU 50 and ICRU 62 volumes, segmentation protocols and procedures. This includes internal target motion and positioning. This also includes the use of biological/molecular imaging for treatment planning.
Monte Carlo Calculations
  Treatment Planning A submission that is based on the use of MC calculations, either for treatment planning or characterizing delivery systems.
  Technique or Device Evaluation Validation or modeling.
Treatment Delivery
  Treatment Techniques Subject matter on new external beam treatment techniques. Submissions should be comprehensive and encompass the planning, dosimetry and validation of new techniques.
  Treatment Delivery Systems Any submission that pertains to use of a new external beam delivery or immobilization systems, including commercial systems. It is imperative that material be novel for this category.
Measurements
  Dosimetry Instrumentation Subject matter pertaining to use of new measurement devices or validation of commercial devices. Special attention will be paid to use of devices that streamline data acquisition.
  Calibration & Quality Assurance Any submission that pertains to programmatic quality assurance. This includes QA for delivery systems, treatment planning, or processes. Special attention will be paid to automation. Submissions based on external beam calibration should extend beyond simple TG-21 to TG-51 comparisons.
  Clinical Measurements/Investigations Specific clinical measurement problems requiring significant measurement and analysis.
Networks, PACS, & DICOM Subject matter that includes network systems, PACS, and Dicom for radiation therapy. Special attention will be paid to management and integration of data flow from planning to delivery.
Stereotactic Subject matter that includes the dosimetry, delivery, planning, and verification of stereotactic radiosurgery/ radiotherapy (including gamma knife). Intra or extra-cranial SRT.
Radiation Safety Therapy Any submission that relates to a safety or shielding issue specific to external beam radiation therapy. Special attention will be paid to shielding issues that extend beyond current NCRP reports (i.e., IMRT).
Thermal Therapies Any treatment technique that elevates or decreases cells/tissues temperatures for some length of time with an ultimate therapeutic goal. Included are: hyperthermia, tissue fusion, coagulation and ablation; ultrasonic-, laser-, microwave- and electro-surgery, burn therapy; thermally-mediated gene therapy, wound healing, bone growth stimulation; and cryosurgery.
Other All others
 

Definitions: Diagnostic Physics (see also Therapy Physics)

Radiography Topics related to general radiography including DR and CR, detector design and characterization, new methods of detector characterization, and clinical studies. Image processing topics should be submitted under the image processing and CAD category.
Mammography All aspects of mammography, including digital mammography. Topics include novel detectors and their evaluation, system evaluation, and new techniques in mammography. Image processing and CAD papers should be submitted under that category.
Fluoroscopy & Angiography Topics related to fluoroscopy and angiography, including digital techniques.
CT Topics covering any aspect of CT, including detector design, system evaluation, artifacts, dosimetry, image reconstruction, and clinical studies. Unless specifically related to CT, submissions related to image display or image fusion are best submitted under the Visualization category. Similarly, CAD talks should be submitted under the CAD category.
MRI All aspects of MRI, MRS and MRA, including image acquisition and image processing. Unless specifically related to MR, submissions related to image display or image fusion are best submitted under the Visualization category. Similarly, CAD talks should be submitted under the CAD category.
Ultrasound All aspects of Ultrasound, including image acquisition, image processing and display. Similarly, CAD talks should be submitted under the CAD category.
Nuclear Medicine All aspects of Nuclear Medicine, including SPECT and PET.
Multi-Modality Imaging Imaging techniques that involve more than one imaging modalities, e.g., Mammography and breast ultrasound, CT and PET, etc.
Image Processing & CAD Topics in all areas of medical image processing including Computer-Aided Diagnosis, including reports on new methodologies and clinical evaluations, as applied to mammography, chest, CT and others.
Visualization & Display Techniques for display visualization of image data, including image fusion, 2D and 3D display of image data, and other related topics.
Electronic Imaging & PACS All aspects of PACS, including image display, storage and distribution. Topics can include PACS characterization, operational discussions, economics of PACS, image quality, new technology and new standards.
Image-Guided Therapy Topics pertaining to the use of image-based feedback systems for radiotherapy including external beam and brachytherapy. Examples include EPID's, camera systems, respiratory gating, or use of imaging in a feedback loop.
Quality Control - Diagnostic The art and science of diagnostic radiology quality assurance, including topics related to the practice of diagnostic medical physics and radiology quality assurance (TQM, etc.). Included in this category are topics of accreditation and regulatory interest, such as the ACR, FDA, etc.
Radiation Protection & Dosimetry - Diagnostic All topics in the area of radiation protection, including shielding and safety. Special attention will be paid to submissions on new shielding approaches. Reports on the science and art of dosimetry, including internal and external radiation sources.
Other - Diagnostic Other aspects of diagnostic medical physics, including optical imaging, infrared, impedance imaging, thermoacoustic imaging, economics of medical physics, and other topics.


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