Chief Medical Physicist’s Research Recognized at 2012 SRS/SBRT Meeting

A research paper presented and authored by Philadelphia CyberKnife chief medical physicist Jun Yang, Ph.D. was awarded “Best Presentation” in the physics category at The Radiosurgery Society’s 2012 SRS/SBRT Meeting in California. The annual meeting brings together physicians, physicists, residents and researchers from around the world who are involved in stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). The meeting is designed to disseminate new scientific findings and technical innovations and expand basic knowledge relevant to clinical practice and improvement of patient outcomes.

The research paper titled “Radiation Shielding Evaluation Based on Five Years of Data From A Busy Cyberknife Center” was co-authored by other members of the Philadelphia CyberKnife clinical team including, medical physicist Jing Feng, M.S; associate medical director Dr. John Lamond; radiation oncologist Dr. Rachelle Lanciano; and medical director Dr. Luther Brady.

The team’s study analyzed the clinical treatment data of 1,400 patients treated at Philadelphia Cyberknife from June 2006 through July 2011. Dr. Yang and Feng designed a computer program that simulated a total of 680,000 clinically used pencil-thin radiation beams to calculate the distribution patterns of the radiation load in three-dimensional spaces around the treatment facility. The data was used to evaluate the general CyberKnife radiation safety guidelines.

Information patterns found in this study will assist in future facility construction by further helping to improve the design of radiation shielding structures to enhance patient, visitor and staff safety, as well as reduce construction costs.