PACS and Rad Therapy

Dosimetrist

Monitors machine and ensures it is properly calibrated

The most common therapy unit is the

linear accelerator

Who determines the patient’s treatment site and laser beam angles for treatment?

Dosimetrist and Radiation Oncologist

What are reasons other than cancer that are treated with radiation therapy?

Keloids, Ateriovenous Malformation, Heterotropic Ossification, Dupuytren’s Contracture

Radiotherapy treatment plans require

an informed consent

Nurse

Monitors patient and records vital signs

Radiation Therapist

Places patient on the table and operates the console

Radiation Oncologist

Responsible for medically treating the patient is there is an event out of the ordinary during the patient’s treatment

Explain how chemotherapy and radiation therapy are different

Radiation therapy utilizes targeted beams of energy to destroy cancer cells in a specific area. Chemotherapy uses drugs that are designed to kill rapidly dividing cells, such as cancer cells.

The purpose of immobilization devices is to

Make therapy treatments reproducible

Which of the following would any member of the hospital staff have access to?

EMR

RIS

HIS

PACS

EMR, HIS, and PACS

What sensation to patients feel when they are receiving radiation therapy treatments?

No sensation

Radiation Therapy leaves healthy tissue that surrounds the tumor completely unharmed

False

The first step in the treatment process is

Simulation

Brachytherapy is radiation therapy delivered

By putting radioactive sources near the tumor

The advanced treatment modality that is not available in Mobile Alabama is

Proton therapy

What is the main purpose of an immobilization device in radiation therapy?

To ensure the same site can be treated each time

X-rays used for radiotherapy

Are in the megavoltage range of energies.

The calculation of a radiotherapy treatment plan

Are prescribed by a radiation oncologist.

Radiotherapy treatment plans

Are carried out by the radiation therapist 

Palliative treatment plans

Require fewer treatment sessions than curative plans

All of the following are true of tomotherapy EXCEPT:

It is a helical type of treatment.

It employs planar tomographic principles.

It can be used to treat all malignancies.

It is used in conjunction with IMRT, SRS, and SRT.

It employs planar tomographic principles.

The total tissue volume irradiated takes into account the

Patient’s body motions, such as respiration, the zone of tissue surrounding the malignant mass, and size and dimension of the malignant mass

Imaging gives the radiation therapist and oncologist

the ability to compare the planned treatment field with the anatomy of the patient.

The contemporary treatment planning process is typically completed

using a CT simulator.

Radiotherapy treatments

are treated as prescriptions, require a physician’s order, and start with a consultation.

The very first therapeutic applications of ionizing radiation were used to treat

non-malignant conditions

Which of the following systems would a staff member from the Radiology department have access to?

PACS

HIS

RIS

EMR

All of these

The acronym PACS stands for

picture archiving and communication system

Part of the PACS network that provides a framework of security standards for exchanging electronic health information. 

HL7

The main difference between the HIS and RIS is

the HIS communicates between the entire hospital, including the radiology department

Prior to the invention of PACS, how long did images on film have to be stored?

5-7 years

What does the acronym DICOM stand for? What is its purpose?

Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine; it’s the language of PACS.  DICOM is used to handle, store, print and transmit medical information all over the world.

What are three disadvantages to implementing a PACS system

Costly to implement, requires personnel dedicated specifically to repairing and maintaining system. Change presents a challenge for some technologists. Confidentiality. Even with HL7 measures, sometimes HIPAA can get violated (staying logged in and someone walks by, etc).

Treatment plan intended to eradicate malignancy

Curative plan

Physician specializing in radiation therapy

Radiation oncologist

First step in the treatment planning process

Simulation

Achieved by moving the gantry and/or couch

Beam angles

Carries out treatment plans on patients

Radiotherapist

Tracing of the shape of the tumor volume as well as structures near the tumor volume that the radiation dose will affect

Contouring

Intended to extend life and/or improve quality of life in terminal patient

Pallative plan

The point where all three rotational axes intersect from the simulator and for the treatment machine

Isocenter

Fractionation is

spreading a dose out over time

A physician who specializes in radiation therapy to treat cancer is known as

Radiation oncologist

Therapy units have couches that move with

6 degrees of freedom

The calculation of a radiotherapy treatment plan

are prescribed by a radiation oncologist.

Radiotherapy treatment plans

are carried out by the radiation therapist 

Proton radiotherapy is particularly beneficial because of

protons depositing their total energy within the target tissue, the positive charge of protons, and the minimal scatter radiation produced with protons

Which of the following is NOT an example of an architectural system used for PACS

Communication based

HIPAA stands for:

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

What are the 4 main components of a PACS system?

Modality

Network- secured, HL7

Archives- storage and retrieval 

Workstation- technologist, radiologist