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Physics and Mathematics of Radiotherapy Planning (University of Zurich)
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:48:29
Abstract
This lecture will provide a detailed introduction to radiotherapy treatment planning. The course considers the physical interactions of radiation in tissue, the mathematical aspects of treatment planning and additional aspects of central importance for radiotherapy planning.
Objective
Students shall develop a thorough understanding of the foundations of radiotherapy from a physics and mathematics perspective, focusing on algorithmic components. After completing the course students should be able to implement the main components of a radiotherapy treatment planning system.
Content
Radiotherapy is one of the main treatment options against cancer. Today, more than 50% of cancer patients receive radiation as part of their treatment. Modern radiotherapy is a highly technology driven field. Research and development in medical physics has improved the precision of radiotherapy substantially. Using intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), radiation can be delivered precisely to tumors while minimizing radiation exposure of heathy organs surrounding the tumor. Thereby, medical physics has provided radiation oncologists with new curative treatment approaches where previously only palliative treatments were possible. This lecture will provide a detailed introduction to radiotherapy treatment planning and will consists of three blocks: 1. The first part of the course considers the physical interactions of radiation in tissue. The physical interactions give rise to dose calculation algorithms, which are used to calculate the absorbed radiation dose based on a CT scan of the patient. 2. The second part considers the mathematical aspects of treatment planning. Mathematical optimization techniques are introduced, which are used in intensity-modulated radiotherapy to determine the external radiation fields that optimally irradiate the tumor while minimizing radiation dose to healthy organs. 3. The third part deals with additional aspects of central importance for radiotherapy planning. This includes biomedical imaging techniques for treatment planning and target delineation as well as image registration algorithms. The lectures are followed by computational exercises where students implement the main components of a radiotherapy treatment planning systems in two dimensions in Matlab.
Resources
Lecture Notes
Lecture slides and handouts.
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- MSC , NDS
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- graded semester performance
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture with exercise |
Physics and Mathematics of Radiotherapy Planning (University of Zurich)
**Course at University of Zurich**
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3 h weekly |
Offered In
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Recommended Elective Courses (These courses are particularly recommended for the Medical Physics track. Please consult your track advisor if you wish to select other subjects.)
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