Medical physics
202584
226066760
2008-07-16T18:00:50Z
Dwayne Reed
7262504
/* Medical imaging */
[[Image:Gamma knife.jpg|thumb|right|[[Gamma Knife]] technology used in [[radiotherapy]].]]
'''Medical physics''' is the application of [[physics]] to [[medicine]]. It generally concerns physics as applied to [[medical imaging]] and [[radiotherapy]], although a '''medical physicist''' may also work in many other areas of healthcare. A medical physics department may be based in either a [[hospital]] or a [[university]] and its work is likely to include [[research]], [[technology development|technical development]] and clinical [[healthcare]].
Of the large body of medical physicists in academia and clinics, roughly 85% practice or specialize in various forms of therapy, 10% in [[Diagnostic imaging]], and 5% in [[nuclear medicine]].<ref>''Alternative Clinical Medical Physics Training Pathways: Report of [[AAPM]] Task Group 133'', p.21</ref> Areas of specialty in medical physics however are widely varied in scope and breadth.
==Areas of specialty==
===Medical imaging===
[[Image:Structural.gif|thumb|right|Para-sagittal MRI of the head in a patient with benign familial macrocephaly.]]
* [[Diagnostic radiology]], including [[x-ray]]s, [[fluoroscopy]], [[mammography]], [[Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry]], [[angiography]] and [[Computed tomography]]
* [[Ultrasound]], including [[intravascular ultrasound]]
* [[Non-ionising radiation]] ([[Lasers]], [[Ultraviolet]] etc.)
* [[Nuclear medicine]], including [[SPECT]] and [[positron emission tomography]] (PET)
* [[Magnetic resonance imaging]] (MRI), including [[functional magnetic resonance imaging]] (fMRI) and other methods for [[functional neuroimaging]] of the [[neuroimaging|brain]].
**For example, [[nuclear magnetic resonance]] (often referred to as [[magnetic resonance imaging]] to avoid the common concerns about [[radiation]]), uses the phenomenon of nuclear [[resonance]] to image the human body.
* [[Magnetoencephalography]]
* [[Electrical impedance tomography]]
* [[Diffuse optical imaging]]
* [[Optical coherence tomography]]
===Treatment of disease===
*[[Defibrillation]]
* High intensity focussed [[ultrasound]], including [[lithotriptor|lithotripsy]]
*[[Interventional radiology]]
*[[Non-ionising radiation]] [[Lasers]], [[Ultraviolet]] etc. including [[photodynamic therapy]] and [[LASIK]]
*[[Nuclear medicine]], including [[unsealed source radiotherapy]]
*[[Photomedicine]], the use of light to treat and diagnose disease
*[[Radiotherapy]]
**[[TomoTherapy]]
**[[Cyberknife]]
**[[Gamma knife]]
**[[Proton therapy]]
**[[Brachytherapy]]
**[[Boron Neutron Capture Therapy]]
*[[Sealed source radiotherapy]]
* [[Terahertz radiation]]
===Physiological measurement techniques===
[[Image:ECG principle slow.gif|thumb|right|[[Electrocardiogram|ECG]] trace]]
Used to monitor and measure various physiological parameters. Many physiological measurement techniques are [[non-invasive]] and can be used in conjunction with, or as an alternative to, other [[Invasive (medical)|invasive]] methods.
* [[Electrocardiography]]
* [[Electromyography]]
* [[Electroencephalography]]
* [[Electronystagmography]]
* [[Endoscopy]]
* [[Medical ultrasonography]]
* [[Non-ionising radiation]] ([[Lasers]], [[Ultraviolet]] etc.)
* [[Near infrared spectroscopy]]
* [[Pulse oximetry]]
* [[Blood gas monitor]]
* [[Blood pressure]] measurement
===Radiation protection===
* [[Background radiation]]
* [[Radiation protection]]
* [[Dosimetry]]
* [[Health Physics]]
* [[Radiological Protection of Patients]]
===Medical computing and mathematics===
[[Image:Tomographic_fig1.png|thumb|CT image reconstruction]]
* [[Medical informatics]]
* [[Telemedicine]]
* [[Picture archiving and communication systems]] (PACS)
* [[DICOM]]
* [[Tomographic reconstruction]], an [[ill-posed problem|ill-posed]] [[inverse problem]]
* Advanced Digital Imaging Solutions Laboratory[ADISL]<ref> [http://home.iitk.ac.in/~rksr]</ref>
==Education and training==
The primary clinical responsibility of the ''Qualified Medical Physicist'' is to "assure the safe and effective delivery of radiation to achieve a diagnostic or therapeutic result as prescribed in patient care (Medical Physics Scope of Practice)".<ref>''Alternative Clinical Medical Physics Training Pathways'': Report of [[AAPM]] Task Group 133, p.4</ref> Various training programs exist to accommodate the demand for specialization in this field.
===In North America===
In [[North America]], medical physics training is offered at a master's, doctorate, post-doctorate and/or residency levels. Several large and established universities offer these degrees in [[Canada]] and the United States. Some programs such as the [[University of Texas Health Science Center Department of Radiology]] offer dual medical residency and Ph.D. degrees in medical physics.<ref>[http://www.uthscsa.edu/hscnews/singleformat.asp?newID=2477 HSC NEWS - The University of Texas Health Science Center - The Office of External Affairs<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> As of 2008, twelve universities in the United States, and five universities in [[Canada]] have graduate programs in Medical Physics that are accredited by ''The Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs'' (CAMPEP). As CAMPEP continues to gain support from bodies such as The [[American Association of Physicists in Medicine]]<ref>AAPM stated policy: http://www.aapm.org/org/policies/details.asp?id=242&type=AP</ref>, the [[American Board of Radiology]] has specified that graduation from a CAMPEP accredited clinical training program be considered a requirement to sit for the ABR certification exams by 2014.<ref>Hendee, W.R., ''Accreditation, Certification and Maintenance of Certification in Medical Physics: The Need for Convergence''. NCCAAPM meeting, Nov 19,, 2004.</ref><ref>''Alternative Clinical Medical Physics Training Pathways'': Report of [[AAPM]] Task Group 133, p.6</ref><ref>[http://www.aapm.org/meetings/05AM/pdf/18-4151-65019-934.pdf AAPM presentation report p.8]</ref> As of 2008, the number of medical physics graduate programs that are not accredited significantly outnumber the CAMPEP accredited programs in North America (see links below).
In the United States, the ''Consumer Assurance of Radiologic Excellence Act (H.R. 1426)'' also called the CARE Bill (under consideration by the U.S. congress in 2007) has required minimum training and qualifications for individuals to practice medical physics. The [[American Board of Radiology]] currently certifies medical physicists and desires that all candidates receive consistent training in a ''CAMPEP'' accredited clinical residency program. The [[American Association of Physicists in Medicine]] supports this desire.<ref>''Alternative Clinical Medical Physics Training Pathways'': Report of [[AAPM]] Task Group 133, p.24</ref>
===In the United Kingdom===
The person concerned must first gain a first or upper second-class honours degree in a physical or engineering science subject before they can start the Grade A medical physics training within the [[NHS]].
Trainees can complete Grade A training in fifteen months provided they hold an MSc from an IPEM accredited center in the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland ([[National University of Ireland, Galway]]). For these candidates, the grade A training consists of pure clinical experience.
Trainees applying for grade A trainee holding only a degree in a physical or engineering science subject must undertake a combined study and clinical training program. This program consists of two years of clinical placement, during which the trainee will study for an MSc in Medical Physics which is approved by the [[Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine]] (IPEM). The MSc will be either at [[Swansea University|Swansea]], [[University of Sheffield|Sheffield]], [[University of Surrey|Surrey]], [[University of Birmingham|Birmingham]], [[University of Leeds|Leeds]], [[University of Manchester|Manchester]], [[University of Aberdeen|Aberdeen]], [[King's College London|King's]] or [[Queen Mary, University of London|Queen Mary's]]. Successful completion of the Grade A training programme leads to an IPEM Diploma. The trainee can then apply for a Grade B position, which will consists of the IPEM's Programme of Advanced Training (PAT) which takes a further two years and leads to Corporate Membership of the IPEM. At this stage the physicist is eligible for Senior Grade B positions.
===Legislative and advisory bodies===
*ICRU: [[International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements]]
*ICRP: [[International Commission on Radiological Protection]]
*NCRP: [[National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements|National Council on Radiation Protection & Measurements]]
*NRC: [[Nuclear Regulatory Commission]]
*FDA: [[Food and Drug Administration]]
*IAEA: [[International Atomic Energy Agency]]
==See also==
* [[Biomedical engineering]]
* [[Biomechanics]]
* [[Functional electrical stimulation]]
* [[Dialysis]]
* [[Gait analysis]]
* [[Prosthetics]]
* [[Cochlear implant]]s
* [[Nanomedicine]]
* [[List of publications in physics#Medical physics|Important publications in medical physics]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{linkfarm}}
{{commons|Category:Medical Physics}}
*[http://medicalphysicsweb.org medicalphysicsweb.org] - a community website from the [[Institute of Physics]]
*[http://scitation.aip.org/medphys/ AIP Medical Physics portal]
*[http://www.radiationphysics.com/ Resources for physics students and clinical medical physicists]
===Schools===
*[http://www.campep.org/campeplstgrad.html CAMPEP Accredited Graduate Programs in Medical Physics]
*[http://www.aapm.org/education/noncampep.asp CAMPEP non-Accredited Graduate Programs in Medical Physics]
*[http://www.medphys.ca/article.asp?id=79 Other list of Canadian programs]
*[http://www.iomp.org/MPlinkpage.htm A partial list of academic programs]
===Professional organizations===
*IOMP: [[International Organisation for Medical Physics]] [http://www.iomp.org (link)]
*ASTRO: [[American Society for Therapeutic Radiology And Oncology]] [http://www.astro.org (link)]
*RSNA: [[Radiological Society of North America]]
*ACMP: [[American College of Medical Physics]] [http://www.acmp.org (link)]
*ISMRM: [[International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine]] [http://www.ismrm.org (link)]
*AAPM: [[American Association of Physicists in Medicine]]
*EFOMP: [[European Federation of Organisations for Medical Physics]] [http://www.efomp.org (link)]
*ABR: [[American Board of Radiology]] [http://www.theabr.org (link)]
*APSM: [[Association of physical scientists in medicine]] [http://www.apsm.org (link)]
*COMP: [[Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists]] [http://www.medphys.ca (link)]
*IPEM: [[Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine]] [http://www.ipem.ac.uk (link)]
*ABMP: [[American Board of Medical Physics]] [http://www.acmp.org/abmp/ (link)]
*SEFM: [[Spanish society of Medical Physics]] [http://www.sefm.es (link)]
*SFPM: [[French society of Medical Physicists]] [http://www.sfpm.asso.fr (link)]
*APSM: [[Association of physical scientists in medicine (Ireland)]] [http://www.apsm.org (link)]
*ACPSEM: [[Australasian college of physical scientists and engineers in medicine]] [http://www.acpsem.org.au (link)]
[[Category:Applied and interdisciplinary physics]]
[[Category:Medical physics]]
[[Category:Radiation oncology]]
[[ar:فيزياء طبية]]
[[bg:Медицинска физика]]
[[de:Medizinische Physik]]
[[fa:فیزیک پزشکی]]
[[fr:Physique médicale]]
[[gl:Física médica]]
[[he:פיזיקה רפואית]]
[[ms:Fizik perubatan]]
[[nl:Medische fysica]]
[[ja:医療物理学]]
[[pl:Fizyka medyczna]]
[[pt:Física médica]]
[[ro:Fizică medicală]]
[[fi:Lääketieteellinen fysiikka]]
[[sv:Radiofysik]]