Molecular Imaging Masters Series

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Center for Continuing Education in the Health Sciences and UPMC Cancer Centers Present:

UPMC

PET/CT for Radiation Oncology
Offers 13.5 CME


Dwight E. Heron

Dwight E. Heron, MD, FACRO

Vice Chairman & Associate Professor, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Director of Radiation Services, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute Pittsburgh, PA


M. Saiful Huq

M. Saiful Huq, PhD, FAAPM, FlnstP

Professor & Director of Medical Physics UPMC Cancer Centers, Department of Radiation Oncology and Professor of Radiation Oncology University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Pittsburgh, PA


Todd M Blodgett, MD

Todd M. Blodgett, MD

Assistant Professor of Radiology University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Chief of Cancer Imaging Department of Radiology University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Pittsburgh, PA


Dates
April 16-17, 2009
June 11-12, 2009
August 6-7, 2009
November 19-20, 2009


Location
UPMC Shadyside Hospital
Radiation Oncology Conference Area
5230 Centre Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15232


Target Audience:
This course is designed for Radiation Oncologists, Nuclear Medicine and Radiology Physicians, Physicists, PET/CT technologists, Dosimetrists and others with an interest in learning the specialized skills and techniques to utilize PET/CT for radiation therapy treatment planning.


Course Overview and Learning Objectives:

This course will cover PET/CT fundamentals, application to radiation oncology treatment planning, assessment of response, surveillance, 4D CT, and 4D PET/CT for oncology imaging.

  • Discuss physics of PET imaging including correction techniques used for image reconstruction (attenuation correction, filtering, finite resolution effects)
  • Discuss the use of F-18 (FDG) for oncological imaging and other radioisotopes being used or investigated.
  • Discuss appropriate use of isotopes for clinical studies.
  • Discuss image processing in aiding the interpretation and diagnosis for various disease sites. Discuss use of Standardized Uptake Values (SUV) for PET image interpretation including pitfalls, limitations, and normal variants
  • Interpret various clinical case studies of oncology patients for: head and neck, lung, esophagus, colorectal, and gynecologic. Discuss PET versus CT/MR anatomy.
  • Discuss immobilization methods for PET/CT – based planning for radiation. Discuss image registration of PET/CT with Planning CT. Discuss use of PET/CT simulation versus CT simulation. Error evaluation of image registration. "Is it good enough?"
  • Discuss image processing in aiding the interpretation and diagnosis for various disease sites. Discuss use of Standardized Update Values (SUV) for PET image interpretation including pitfalls, limitations, and normal variants.
  • Present methods on how to set the Window/Level for PET images. Use of PET/CT volumes and treatment margins. PET/CT volumes and radiation dose prescriptions
  • Use of same image registration lab cases, segmentation of target volumes for various disease sites
  • Discuss DICOM RT objects and integration of PET/CT with treatment planning systems.
  • Exportation of DICOM RT structure sets and examine contents of image objects
  • Present the physics of 4D CT simulation using RPM Gating system. Present the respiratory cycle analysis and review methods for coaching patients on breathing techniques. Present breath-hold versus free-breathing CT simulation methods.
  • Utilizing 4D CT review software, discuss respiratory phase analysis; phase specific errors; minimum and maximum intensity projection description and analysis; selection of appropriate respiratory phases for treatment.
  • Demonstrate methodologies to transfer CT phases into the treatment planning system including exportation of CT images and structure sets. Differentiate free-breathing tumor volumes versus gated tumor volumes.
  • Discuss PET/CT phase specific contouring tools and anatomy; use of 4D PET/CT volumes and treatment margins; 4D PET/CT fused volumes and radiation dose
  • Discuss literature supporting PET/CT use for: head and neck cancer; lung cancer; esophagus cancer; breast cancer; lymphomas; colorectal; and gynecologic and other cancers.
  • Discuss specificity and sensitivity in staging; use of PET/CT in detecting unknown primaries; use of PET/CT in monitoring response of tumor to radiation and/or chemotherapy; correlation of clinical response and pathologic response.


Faculty Background

Todd M. Blodgett, MD is the Chief of Cancer Imaging at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in the Department of Radiology. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in neuroscience and medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Blodgett completed an internship in internal medicine at the Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh followed by a residency in diagnostic radiology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He has also completed a yearlong fellowship in PET and PET/CT imaging and a fellowship in cancer imaging.

Dr. Blodgett assisted in the initial clinical evaluation of the prototype PET/CT scanner, which was installed at the University of Pittsburgh in 1998. Between 1998 and 2001, approximately 330 patients were scanned on the prototype scanner, and based on the favorable data, the FDA approved the combined PET/CT for clinical use in 2001. Since that time, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center has performed approximately 70,000 PET/CT scans. Dr. Blodgett is a member of numerous professional societies, including the Radiological Society of North America, the Society of Nuclear Medicine, and the American Roentgen Ray Society.

Dr. Blodgett is also author or coauthor of approximately 20 peer-reviewed articles, 35 book chapters, and approximately 50 scientific abstracts.

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Dwight E. Heron, MD, FACRO is Vice Chairman for Clinical Affairs of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Department of Radiation Oncology, and Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Since his arrival in Pittsburgh in July 2000, Dr. Heron has emerged as an exciting young investigator. He is the primary investigator on a $5 million, five-year grant designed to assess, identify and formulate solutions to cancer disparities in Western Pennsylvania. A companion grant assists racially and socioeconomically disadvantaged patients navigate health systems to obtain timely and state of the art radiation therapy cancer care.

Dr. Heron came to the University of Pittsburgh from Thomas Jefferson University where he completed his residency (including a year as Chief Resident) in radiation oncology following an internal medicine internship at Winthrop University Hospital, Mineola, NY. Upon his arrival in Pittsburgh he first served on the radiation oncology staff of UPMC Magee Women's Hospital, then Clinical Director at UPMC Shadyside Hospital.

Dr. Heron received his MD from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, and holds a bachelor's degree in biology from Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut.

Dr. Heron has published numerous articles and abstracts and has presented at many national and international meetings. His research interests include stereotactic radiotherapy for benign and malignant brain tumors, evaluation of PET/CT in staging and management of a variety of cancers including the use of 4D PET/CT for thoracic and abdominal malignancies. He also has expertise in the use of stereotactic technology for the treatment of extra-cranial disease and the use of advanced radiation techniques to cure a variety of cancers.

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M. Saiful Huq, PhD, FAAPM, FlnstP is the Director of Medical Physics for the UPMC Cancer Centers, Department of Radiation Oncology and Professor of Radiation Oncology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Since his arrival in 2004, Dr. Huq has been involved in several areas of research. He is co-principal investigator on a grant for Dynamic Tumor Volumetric Regression Analysis Using Cone-beam and PET/CT and also a co-principal investigator of a UPMC Varian/D3 research project, which is a funded grant for $500,000.

Dr. Huq came to the University of Pittsburgh from Thomas Jefferson University where he was Clinical Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology. He received both his PhD and MS in Physics from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Dr. Huq has published numerous abstracts and manuscripts and is a member of many professional societies, national and international committees and task groups. He has been an oral board examiner for the American Board of Radiology for the past six years and the Vice-Chair of the AAPM Therapy Physics Committee. Dr. Huq is in charge of the Medical Physics Residency program and the Dosimetry Training program at UPMC and is involved in teaching the radiation oncology residents, clinical medical physics residents and postdoctoral fellows in medical physics at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Cancer Centers.

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Faculty Disclosure
In accordance with Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education requirements on disclosure, information about relationships of presenters with commercial interests (if any) will be included in materials distributed at the time of the conference.


Continuing Education Credit Statement:
The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The University of Pittsburgh School of medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 13.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Each physician should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Other health care professionals are awarded 1.35 continuing education units (CEUs), which are equal to 13.5 contact hours.


UPMC

About UPMC
UPMC Cancer Centers provides the finest level of cancer care to patients throughout the tri-state region. Working in tandem with the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI), which comprises the academic and research activities for cancer at the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC, UPMC Cancer Centers offers patients the latest advances in cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment.

The mission of UPMC Cancer Centers reflects the overall mission of UPCI as a premier National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer to provide the highest level of clinical care to the 30,000 patients treated at its facilities each year while performing cutting-edge cancer research. At UPMC Cancer Centers, more than 2,300 physicians, scientists, administrative staff, and other health care professionals are working together to reduce the burden of cancer. They represent a variety of specialties including surgical oncology, medial oncology, radiation oncology, otolaryngology, neuro-oncology, gynecologic oncology, palliative care, and behavioral medicine. Combined, these disciplines give the Cancer Centers a range of knowledge which covers virtually all types of adult cancer.

For more information about UPMC Cancer Centers and UPCI, please visit:
www.upmccancercenters.com/about
www.upci.upmc.edu/about


Special Needs UPMC facilities are handicap accessible. Participation by all individuals is encouraged. Advance notification of any special needs will help us provide better service. Please notify us of your needs at least two weeks in advance of the program by calling 412-623-3671.