MEDICAL APPLICATIONS OF PHYSICS

Course objectives

GENERAL OBJECTIVES: The course aims to provide the necessary knowledge of the operating principles of the instrumentation used in biomedical research and diagnostics. In particular, the students study the interactions of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation with matter and learn how to exploit them in imaging techniques. The knowledge of radiography and tomography with X and gamma rays, with magnetic resonance and ultrasound is acquired. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: A - Knowledge and understanding OF 1) To know the fundamentals of radiation-material interactions in biomedicine. OF 2) To learn about physical methods for imaging and the biological effects of radiation in medicine. OF 3) To understand image reconstruction algorithms in diagnostics and research. OF 4) To know the equipments used for imaging in biomedicine. OF 5) To understand radiation detectors in medicine. … B - Application skills OF 6) To Know how to deduce the response of the detectors used in biomedicine. OF 7) To be able to solve problems related to the interaction of ionizing radiation and matter. … C - Autonomy of judgment OF 8) To be able to integrate the knowledge acquired in order to apply them for diagnostics and research in the health sector. D - Communication skills E - Ability to learn OF 9) Have the ability to consult scientific articles in order to independently investigate topics in the health sector. OF 10) Be able to conceive and develop a related diagnostic imaging project in biomedicine.

Channel 1
NAURANG LAL SAINI Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
The course is aimed to acquire knowledge of physical principles and technologies behind the working of the equipments used in research and biomedical diagnostics. In particular, imaging techniques and instrumentation (imaging by x-rays, nuclear medicine imaging, magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging) and their working principles are discussed. The topics include:   Interaction of ionizing radiation with matter:
 General properties of ionizing radiations: corpuscular and electromagnetic radiations; Radioactivity and radioactive elements decay series; natural and artificial radioactive sources. Interaction of radiation with matter: absorption of ionizing radiation. Effect of radiation at the molecular and cellular levels; brief introduction to the radiation dosimetry.   Imaging with ionizing radiation: Imaging methods using X-ray: interaction with matter, source, detection, instrumentation and applications.
Projection imaging, computed tomography (CT scan), instrumentation and methods of image reconstruction. 
 Imaging with radioisotopes (in Brief): 
 interaction with matter, source, detection, instrumentation and applications. gamma camera (Anger camera), single photon emission tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET), instrumentation and methods. Imaging with nuclear magnetic resonance (MRI): 
physical principles, instrumentation and applications Ultrasound imaging: Methods of imaging with ultrasound: sources, interaction with matter, detection, instrumentation and applications
Prerequisites
It is important to have knowledge of the general properties of radiations.
Books
1) The Essential Physics of Medical Imaging JERROLD T. BUSHBERG, J. ANTHONY SEIBERT, EDWIN M. LEIDHOLDT JR, JOHN M. BOONE, PhD 2) Medical Imaging Physics William R. Hendee, E. Russell Ritenour
Teaching mode
The course includes lectures in classroom and seminars on very specific topics of the course contents.
Frequency
The presence in classroom lectures is optional.
Exam mode
The final exam includes an oral test in which several questions are asked obtain in depth knowledge of all the topics covered in the program. During the course, midterm tests are conducted (generally presentations) contributing up to 1/3 of the overall evaluation. The evaluation criteria is based on: - the clarity and rigor of the presentation. - the correctness of the concepts presented. - analytical reasoning ability of theoretical concepts. - attitude of problem solving.
Bibliography
Apart from the suggested text books, additional study material is provided during the course.
Lesson mode
The course includes lectures in classroom and seminars on very specific topics of the course contents.
VINCENZO PATERA Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
a) Detector for nuclear medicine efficiency, resolution, response function. Scintillator detectors, continuous and pixelated crystals. Single Photon Computed Tomography: collimation, Anger camera. Positron Emission Tomography: detectiopn in coincidence. Resolution: positron range, photon acollinearity, Depth of Interaction. Sensitivity, true, false and random coincidences. Time of Flight PET b) Principles of image reconstruction in nuclear medicine analytical reconstruction. Iterative methods, noise evaluation. Attenuation correction. c) Interaction of ionizing radiation- humean tissue cell damage, direct damage, indirect damage, cell survival, quadratic linear model, changes in cell survival: RBE, OER, time fractionation. Dosimetry in Radiotherapy d) RT/medical accelerators: Operating principles of LINACs, cyclotrons, synchrotrons. d) External beam radiotherapy: Dose distributions for different beams: build up, Bragg Beak, SOBP, dose from Very High Energy Electrons. Intra operative radio therapy and BNCT. Positioning systems, GANTRIES, chairs. Particle therapy imaging: Equivalent range. Proton CT, Helium CT 4) AI inRadioTherapy. The Treatment Planning System: PTV, OAR, cost function, minimization methods. Photon TPS (sectors, applicability penalties). Particle therapy TPS: Gradient based, Simulated annealing, quantum simulated annealing, parallel tempering. Monte Carlo method and RT
Prerequisites
basic knowledge of calculus knowledge of general physics: mechanics and electromagnetism basic knowledge of nuclear physics basic knowledge of radiation-matter interaction
Books
Diagnostic Radiology Physics : "A Handbook for Teachers and Students" https://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Publications/PDF/Pub1564webNew-74666420.pdf Nuclear Medicine Physics : "A Handbook for Teachers and Students" https://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Publications/PDF/Pub1617web-1294055.pdf Radiation Oncology Physics: "A Handbook for Teachers and Students" https://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Publications/PDF/Pub1196_web.pdf
Frequency
The lessons will be given 3 times per week
Exam mode
The oral test concerns the evaluation of knowledge on medical techniques that use radiation. In particular, the basis of nuclear physics applied to medicine and the foundations of radiation protection will be examined. Knowledge of nuclear imaging techniques will be assessed with particular attention to the technological design of SPECT and PET machines. Knowledge of the application of radiation physics to radiotherapy of solid tumors will also be examined.
Lesson mode
Lessons are given in person, with the use of computer presentations
  • Lesson code1044548
  • Academic year2025/2026
  • CoursePhysics
  • CurriculumFundamental Interactions: Theory and Experiment (Percorso valido anche fini del conseguimento del titolo multiplo italo-francese-svedese-ungherese) - in lingua inglese
  • Year2nd year
  • Semester1st semester
  • SSDFIS/01
  • CFU6