title: Treatment verification using a computer workstation.
abstract: The outcome of radiation therapy is clearly dependent upon the accuracy with which dose is delivered to the target volume. With the ever increasing use of oblique and even non-coplaner beams, verification issues have become more significant. Presently, radiation oncologists verify the accuracy with which treatments are delivered by comparing a reference ("prescription," usually simulator) on-film image to a portal on-film image on a lightbox. This process is fraught with difficulties as the images are usually rendered with different magnifications, orientations, and contrast. Using a computer workstation, a system has been created that allows a physician to enhance, register, and transparently overlay the portal image on the prescription image. As the prescription and portal images are rendered in shades-of-yellow and shades-of-gray, respectively, a physician can interactively adjust the images and can easily detect set-up errors and/or beam placement errors. Thus greater treatment accuracy should be achievable, especially for unfamiliar beam orientations.
authors: Radiation Oncology Center, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110.
authors: M S
authors: MS
authors: Weinhous
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011881:Radiotherapy, Computer-Assisted