Required in stage
Optional in stage
First term
Second term
Not organised
This year
Next year
Alternating years
External
Prerequisites
Identical coursesInternship in Radiology, Radiotherapy or Nuclear Medicine in vivo (B-KUL-G00J9A)
English
600 
Both terms
Cannot be taken as part of an examination contractCannot be taken as part of a credit contract
N. Aims
This course provides the student with the necessary practical experience to work primarily as a medical physicist in a hospital environment. He/she does his/her internship in one of the directions for which he/she is applying for the certificate from the FANC/AFNC (Federal Agency for Nuclear Control): a) radiology, b) radiotherapy or c) nuclear medicine in vivo.
The duration of the internship required for the certificate is 12 months. When the diploma is awarded at the end of the academic year, eight months of the internship will have been completed. Obtaining the diploma is a necessary condition for recognition, together with a full internship it is a sufficient condition.
Other possible professional activities as a medical physicist (e.g. in industry, governmental institutions, or research) often also require the certificate and so the 12 months of internship.
Previous knowledge
The student is familiar with the basics of medical radiation physics. This includes the theoretical basis regarding the technology and techniques used in the radiotherapy, nuclear medicine and radiology services, and regarding elements of radiation protection.
Order of Enrolment
Mixed prerequisite:
You may only take this course if you comply with the prerequisites. Prerequisites can be strict or flexible, or can imply simultaneity. A degree level can be also be a prerequisite.
Explanation:
STRICT: You may only take this course if you have passed or applied tolerance for the courses for which this condition is set.
FLEXIBLE: You may only take this course if you have previously taken the courses for which this condition is set.
SIMULTANEOUS: You may only take this course if you also take the courses for which this condition is set (or have taken them previously).
DEGREE: You may only take this course if you have obtained this degree level.
STRICT(G0C97B) AND STRICT(G0Z62A) AND STRICT(G0Z63A) AND STRICT(G0Z64A) AND SIMULTANEOUS(H03H5A)
The codes of the course units mentioned above correspond to the following course descriptions:
G0C97B : Radiation Protection
G0Z62A : Technology and Techniques in Radiology
G0Z63A : Technology, Dosimetry and Treatment Planning in Radiotherapy
G0Z64A : Technology and Techniques in Nuclear Medicine
H03H5A : Medical Imaging and Analysis
Identical courses
This course is identical to the following courses:
G0T93A : Stage in de radiologie, de radiotherapie of de nucleaire geneeskunde in vivo (No longer offered this academic year)
Is included in these courses of study
Activities
24 ects. Internship in Radiology, Radiotherapy or Nuclear Medicine in vivo (B-KUL-G00J9a)
Content
1. Radiology
The internship in radiology involves learning the following tasks:
a. Quality control of x-ray equipment (mammography, classic RX equipment and equipment for dynamic examinations, dental radiography and CT). This includes acceptance testing and annual acceptability testing. The student must be able to prepare the legally required reports.
b. Daily quality control activities and associated reporting (for film-screen mammography, digital mammography, monitors and analyzes based on the DICOM headers).
c. A (scientific) optimization study with test object (problem definition, selection of solution method and data processing).
d. Patient dosimetry (manual methods and insight into automated methods).
2. Radiotherapy
The internship in radiotherapy provides the following experience:
a. Periodic quality control of clinical linear accelerators (Daily, monthly, semi-annual).
b. Absolute calibration and cross-calibrations.
c. Clinical planning of patient radiation treatments.
d. Special techniques: TBI, Brachytherapy and In Vivo Dosimetry. Scientific approach to a clinical problem and/or introduction of new technology into clinical routine.
3. Nuclear Medicine in vivo
The nuclear medicine internship includes:
a. working with gamma camera, PET camera, dose calibrator.
b. quality control of the gamma camera, PET camera, dose calibrator (acceptance tests and regular checks).
c. dosimetry of diagnostic studies and metabolic therapy.
d. stock management of radioactive sources, management of radioactive waste, dealing with radioactive contamination.
Elements of classical safety are also discussed during the internship.
The content of the internship will continuously adapt to recent developments in the field of radiology, radiotherapy, and nuclear medicine in vivo.
Course material
1. Radiology
- the vademecum of radiology (www.fanc.fgov.be).
- QC protocols from the EC, IPEM and AAPM
- European Guidelines for QA in breast cancer screening and diagnosis
2. Radiotherapy
- Radiation Therapy, Faiz M. Khan.
3. Nuclear Medicine
- ISO website v.d. employ
- NEMA documents
- Nuclear Medicine Recommendations, Quality Promotion Committee of the Dutch Association for Nuclear Medicine.
Format: more information
The student follows a 12-month internship (previous internships in the Master of Medical Physics program are counted as part of these 12 months), under the supervision of an internship supervisor, at the UZ Leuven or, subject to approval by the internship supervisor, in another hospital.
If the student is already a recognized expert in medical radiation physics with specialization in radiotherapy and wishes to obtain an additional specialization in radiology or nuclear medicine, this internship can be shortened to 6 months. For this purpose, the guidelines of the Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (FANC) must be followed.
The student learns the tasks of medical physics by working with recognized medical radiation physicists. These tasks include the activities as listed in the Royal Decree of 20 July 2001. The student carries out a series of tasks independently, but always under supervision. The internship reports are graded.
During the internship, an internship report is drawn up that is part of the documentation that is submitted to the FANC to obtain the certificate.
Evaluation
Evaluation: Internship in Radiology, Radiotherapy or Nuclear Medicine in vivo (B-KUL-G20J6a)
Explanation
Radiology:
- carrying out a number of tests under the supervision of the lecturer
- review of finished reports (quality control testing, image quality study, dosimetry)
- discussion about the practical aspects of quality control measurements
Information about retaking exams
No 2nd examination opportunity.