Dr. Stephen Pistorius, P.Phys, Ph.D.

Provincial Director, Medical Physics
CancerCare Manitoba
675 McDermot Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0V9
Canada

Tel (204) 787-4134
Fax (204) 775-1684
CancerCare Manitoba Medical Physics Research
Email: stephen.pistorius@cancercare.mb.ca

Last update: July 29, 2003

Current Positions 

Associate Professor U of M, Radiology  2001 – current
Provincial Director: Medical Physics CancerCare Manitoba (CCMB) 2000 – current
Section Head: Medical Physics U of M, Radiology. 1995 – current
Adjunct Professor U of M, Physics and Astronomy. 1992 – current

Previous Positions

Director: Medical Physics CancerCare Manitoba 1995 – 2000
Assistant Professor U of M, Radiology. 1992 – 2001
Senior Medical Physicist MCTRF (now CCMB) 1992 – 1995
Medical Physicist Tygerberg Hosp. / U of Stellenbosch 1986 – 1992
Medical Physicist Intern Tygerberg Hosp. / U of Stellenbosch 1984 – 1986
Snr Professional Officer / Student Tygerberg Hosp. / U of Stellenbosch 1982 – 1984
Health Physicist / Assist. Engineer Contronics (Pty) Ltd 1980 – 1982
Instructor & Administrator SADF, Engineers: Officer Training 1978 – 1980

Education

Research Interests and other expertise

Academic Honours/Awards

Certifications

Students supervised

(a) Current Students
Eric van Uytven (Candidate for Ph.D. Physics, UM)
Keyvan Jabbarri (Candidate for M.Sc. Physics, UM)
Cameron Melvil (Candidate for M.Sc. Engineering, UM)(co-supervisor)

(b) Graduated Students
Girish Tirunelveli (Graduated with M.Sc. Engineering, UM, 2003) (co-supervisor)
Boyd McCurdy (Graduated with Ph.D. Physics, UM, 2001)
Cristina Tollefsen (Graduated with M.Sc. Physics, UM, 2000)
Collins Yeboah (Graduated with M.Sc. Physics, UM, 1997)

Courses Taught

2003 – current Medical Physics and Physiological Measurement (Undergraduate, Manitoba)
1994 – 2000 Medical Radiation Physics (Graduate, Manitoba)
1986 – 1991 Radiation Physics and Protection (Undergraduate) (Peninsula / Cape Technikon)
1989 – 1991 Radiotherapy Physics (Undergraduate) (Otto du Plessis Nursing College)
1985 – 1991 Radiation Physics (Graduate) (University of Stellenbosch)
1984 – 1985 Biophysics (Undergraduate) (Otto du Plessis Nursing College)

Key Committee/Team Involvement

Research Funding Received

(a) CCMB/MCTRF grants

  1. “CTM-OPT: Computed Tomographic Mammography – One Photon at a Time,” CCMF Inc. $49,311: Jul 2002 to Jun 2003
  2. “A Virtual Radiotherapy Environment VRxE with dynamic real-time dosimetric feedback,” MCTRF Operating Grant, $27,991: Jul 1998 to Jun 1999
  3. “A Virtual Radiotherapy Environment VRxE Program: Equipment required for feasibility study” MCTRF Equipment Grant, $48,000: Jul 1997 to Jun 1998
  4. “On-line Dosimetric Verification of Radiotherapy Treatments by Electronic Portal Imaging,” MCTRF Operating Grant, $20,500: Jul 1995 to Jun 1996
  5. “Computer Infrastructure for Medical Physics Research,” MCTRF Equipment Grant, $55,000: Jul 1993 to Jun 1994

(b) External Grants

  1. “CTM-OPT: Computed Tomographic Mammography One Photon at a Time,” “Friends … You Can Count On,” US$40,000: 2002 to 2004
  2. “Maximizing the image quality/dose ratio in computed tomography: the feasibility of using x-ray CT for mammography, ” WRHA/UM Organ Imaging Fund, $50,000: 2001
  3. “Exit Dosimetry, ”Siemens Industrial Research Grant, $166,000: Jan 1997 to Jan 1999

Recent and Selected Publications

Papers in refereed journals

Click the Unique Identifier (UI) to view the abstract in the bottom frame.

McCurdy, B.M., K. Luchka & S. Pistorius (2001). Dosimetric investigation and portal dose image prediction using an amorphous silicon electronic portal imaging device. Med Phys 28(6), 911-24.URL = PMID: 11439488

McCurdy, B.M. & S. Pistorius (2000). A two-step algorithm for predicting portal dose images in arbitrary detectors. Med Phys 27(9), 2109-16. UI=20464310

McCurdy, B.M. & S. Pistorius (2000). Photon scatter in portal images: accuracy of a fluence based pencil beam superposition algorithm. Med Phys 27(5), 913-22. UI = 20298089

McCurdy, B.M. & S. Pistorius (2000). Photon scatter in portal images: physical characteristics of pencil beam kernels generated using the EGS Monte Carlo code. Med Phys 27(2), 312-20. UI = 20181062

Yeboah, C. & S. Pistorius (2000). Monte Carlo studies of the exit photon spectra and dose to a metal/phosphor portal imaging screen. Med Phys 27(2), 330-9. UI = 20181064

McCurdy, B.M. & S. Pistorius (1999). Determination of equivalent photon fields through integrated 1D convolution kernels. Phys Med Biol 44(12), 2971-85. UI = 20081895

McCurdy, B.M. & S. Pistorius (1997). Deriving an equivalent field relationship through Monte Carlo simulation. Proceedings of the World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Nice (1997); Medical and Biological Engineering & Computing, 35 Suppl. Part 2, 1109 (abs).

Yeboah, C. & S. Pistorius (1997). The validation of the equivalent field size concept for portal exit dosimetry. Proceedings of the World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Nice (1997); Medical and Biological Engineering & Computing, 35 Suppl. Part 2, 1072 (abs).

Yeboah, C. & S. Pistorius (1996). Investigation of the factors that affect the use of electronic portal imaging exit dose measurements. Proceedings of the COMP 42nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC, pp 292-295 (1996); Medical Physics, 23 (5), 811 (abs).

Pistorius, S. & C. Yeboah (1995). Analysis and modelling of electronic portal imaging exit dose measurements. Proceedings of the Third Biennial ESTRO Meeting on Physics in Clinical Radiotherapy, Gardone Riviera. Radiotherapy and Oncology, Vol 37, No S1, October (abs).

Mirzai, M., J. Lewis & S. Pistorius (1995). Standardisation of Equivalent Squares and the Use of TPR's for TBI Calculations. Medical Physics, Vol. 22, No 5, May (abs).

Pistorius, S. (1994). Parametric Modeling of Electron Beam Energy Spectra. Proceedings of the World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Rio de Janeiro. Physics in Medicine and Biology, Vol. 39a (abs).

Schreuder, A.N., D.T.L. Jones, S. Pistorius & W.A. Groenewald (1992). The Primary Attenuation Coefficient of a p(66)+Be(40) Neutron Therapy Beam. Radiation Protection Dosimetry Vol 44 (1): 411-415, 1992.

Schreuder, A.N., D.T.L. Jones, S. Pistorius & W.A. Groenewald (1991). Primary attenuation coefficients of a p(66)/Be(40) neutron therapy beam. National Accelerator Centre Report, NAC/91-05, September 1991.

van Papendorp, D.H., S. Pistorius & F.S. Hough (1988). In vitro determination of bone mineral content of the femur neck. Use of computed tomography. S Afr Med J 73(6), 363-4. UI = 88178365

Winzel, E., E.J. van der Merwe, W. Groenewald, S. Pistorius, J.P. Slabbert, L. Robinson & L. Bohm (1987). The relative biological effectiveness of 100 kV X-rays determined by the V-79 cell colony assay. S Afr Med J 71(11), 693-5. UI = 87234702

Pistorius, S. (1985). Quantitative Post Reconstructive C.T. Analysis. Medical and Biological Engineering and Computing Vol. 23 Supplement Part 1.

Pistorius, S. & W.A. Groenewald (1984). An improved method for the determination of source position times in (HDR) intracavitary radiotherapy. IEEE Proceedings of the 8th ICCR, Toronto.

Papers in non-refereed journals/publications

  1. Pistorius S and McCurdy BM (2002). Exit Dosimetry – Quo Vadis. Interactions 48 (4): 120-125 October 2002.
  2. McCurdy, BM and Pistorius S (2002). Exit Dosimetry: Closing the Radiotherapy Chain. Physics in Canada 58 (2): 71-77, March/April 2002
  3. G. de Hollain, E.L. Wayburne and S. Pistorius (1981). Radiation Crosslinked PVC: A combination of enhanced properties. Pulse December 1981: 58-59

Papers in refereed conference proceedings

  1. E. Cowdrey, H. Johnson and S. Pistorius (invited 2003). Environmental Safety Issues Involving Electromagnetic Fields in Manitoba, Canada. International Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatability, IEEE-EMC Society, Istanbul, 11-16 May 2003
  2. B.M.C. McCurdy, K. Luchka, and S. Pistorius (2001). Validation of a portal dose calculation algorithm on an amorphous silicon portal imager", Proceedings of the 47th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists, pp. 167-169, 2001.
  3. B.M.C. McCurdy, K. Luchka, and S. Pistorius (2001). Investigation of an amorphous silicon portal imager: energy response and glare", Proceedings of the 47th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists, pp. 63-65, 2001.
  4. S. Pistorius (1985). Quantitative Post Reconstructive C.T analysis. Medical and Biological Engineering and Computing. 23 (Supplement Part 1), 621-2, 1985
  5. Pistorius S and Groenewald WA. (1984). The Determination of Source-Position times in Intracavitary Radiotherapy. IEEE Proceedings of the 8th ICCR 362-4, 1984

Major invited contributions

  1. S. Pistorius (invited speaker 1999). Theoretical, Computational and Experimental Analysis, Characterisation and Modeling of a Metal Phosphor megavoltage X-ray Imaging System for Exit Dosimetry. (abs) Physics in Canada 55(3) 52, 1999
  2. S. Pistorius (invited speaker 1994). Neutron Therapy: Past, Present and Future, CAMRT Conference, Winnipeg, June 1994
  3. S. Pistorius (invited faculty 1991). Developments in Photon and Electron Beam Dose Calculations, SAAPMB/MRC Summer School on “Biophysical Aspects of Therapy Beams.” Cape Town 1991

Abstracts

  1. P. Potrebko and S. Pistorius (2003). A Broad Beam Analytical Photon Scatter Model employing convolution techniques. Western Canadian Medical Physics Conference, Winnipeg, MB. March 2003.
  2. H. Andres, K. Furutani, B. McCurdy, S. Pistorius (2002). An investigation of radiative processes in beam-modifying filters", Western Canadian Medical Physics Conference, Thunder Bay, ON, 2002 (Abstract).
  3. J. Lewis, J. Beck, B.M.C. McCurdy, and S. Pistorius (2001). Accuracy in the presence of inhomogeneities of two commercial electron planning systems, Med. Phys. 28(8):1826, 2001 (Abstract).
  4. McCurdy BM and Pistorius S (1997). Validation of one-dimensional Convolution Methods for Kerma Calculation (abs). Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing. 35 (Supp Part 2): 1107, 1997
  5. C. Yeboah and Pistorius S (1997). The Validation of the Equivalent Field Size Concept for Portal Exit Dosimetry (abs). Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing. 35 (Supp Part 2): 1072, 1997
  6. B. McCurdy and S. Pistorius (1997). Deriving an Equivalent Field Relationship through Monte Carlo Simulation (abs). Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing. 35(Supp Part 2): 1109, 1997
  7. M. Mirzai, J. Lewis and S. Pistorius (1995). Standardisation of equivalent Squares and the use of TPR’s for TBI calculations (abs) Medical Physics 22(5) 1995
  8. Pistorius S (1994). Parametric Modeling of Electron Beam Energy Spectra (abs). Physics in Medicine and Biology. 39a (Part 2): 678, 1994
  9. Pistorius S (1993). Convolution based, analytic models for broad beam kerma (abs). Medical Physics. 20 (3), 1993
  10. S. Pistorius, W.A.Groenewald and E.J.van der Merwe (1988). The effect of brass beam-modifying filters on cobalt-60 central axis depth-dose distributions. (abs) South African Journal of Science, Vol. 84, July 1988

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