This book provides an overview of recent advances in radiation oncology, many of which have originated from physics and engineering sciences. After an introductory section on basic aspects of 3D medical imaging, the role of 3D imaging in the context of radiotherapy is explored in a series of chapters on the various modern imaging techniques. A further major section addresses 3D treatment planning for conformal radiotherapy, with consideration of both external radiotherapy and brachytherapy. Subsequently the modern techniques of 3D conformal radiotherapy are described, including stereotactic radiotherapy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy, image-guided and adaptive radiotherapy, and radiotherapy with charged particles. More clinically oriented chapters explore the use of brachytherapy in patients with prostate cancer, cardiovascular disorders and breast cancer. The book concludes with sections on patient positioning and quality assurance. The text is specifically designed to be accessible to professionals and students with a medical background as well as to newcomers to radiation oncology from the field of physics.

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schlegel studied Physics at the Free University of Berlin and the University of Heidelberg. He is the head of the Medical Physics department at the German Cancer Research Center (dkfz) in Heidelberg and Professor for Medical Physics at the University of Heidelberg.Prof. Thomas Bortfeld studied Physics at the Universities of Hannover and Heidelberg. He received his training in Medical Physics at the DKFZ in Heidelberg. He is now the Director of Physics Research in Radiation Oncology at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, and Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Anca-Ligia Grosu studied medicine in Cluj (Romania) and received her MD in Radiation Oncology at the Technical University of Munich. She is the Head of the Brain Stereotactical Radiotherapy and Radiosurgery Group of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Technical University and the Vice-President of the Neuro-Oncology-Group at the Tumour Center in Munich.