Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy: Initiating and building a clinical stereotactic body radiation therapy program

This text provides oncology professionals with a practical understanding of the basic science, technical aspects, and clinical indications of stereotactic body radiation therapy, including radiosurgery, radiotherapy, and radioablation. Coverage includes discussions of relevant classical and molecular radiobiological principles, critical evaluations of currently used techniques, and background clinical oncology information plus summaries of reported outcomes for patients treated in the lung, liver, and spine. Doody Review Services Reviewer: James G. Douglas, MD, MS(University of Washington Medical Center) Description: This book describes the latest technological advance in delivery of radiotherapy -- stereotactic body radiotherapy. It adequately covers the radiobiological and physics principles behind such technologies and then describes the early experience in different disease sites. Purpose: The authors state that the book is "intended to be a primer for radiation oncologists, radiobiologists, dosimetrists, therapists, and other invaluable members of the team who wish to become comfortable with emerging techniques that raise radiotherapy to bold new heights." Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is an emerging technique and a book such as this is needed. The authors do meet their goal to introduce the principles and techniques of SBRT. Whether this emerging technology will raise radiotherapy to "bold new heights" remains to be proven. Audience: The audience includes those radiation oncologists, physicists, radiation oncology residents, and radiobiologists who are interested in pursuing this technology. The authors are the pioneers in this field. Features: The book is divided into three main sections: radiobiological principles; physics and dosimetry concepts; and clinical applications of the technique. Both the radiobiological basis of the procedure and the dosimetric and physics components are very well covered. The problems with normal tissue constraints and target delineation, immobilization, and dose imhomogeneity are eloquently discussed. As this technique is relatively new, the clinical section is brief but does update the reader on the current "state of affairs. Assessment: This is a very well written book on an emerging technology in radiation oncology. It is well organized and provides valuable information to anyone considering the use of SBRT. It will be a useful primer for those interested in pursuing SBRT. "Kavanaugh (radiation oncology, University of Colorado Comprehensive Cancer Center) and Timmerman (image guided stereotactic radiation therapeutics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center) demonstrate the power of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) as a weapon in the cancer-fighting arsenal, and give advice on building a clinical SBRT program. Intended as a primer for radiation oncologists, physicists, radiobiologists, dosimetrists, and other members of the cancer team, and the book covers the radiobiology, physics, and dosimetry of SBRT, and gives practical details on procedures for specific conditions. B & w photos and medical images are included. Annotation : 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)"--[source inconnue]