CT simulator: a new 3-D planning and simulating system for radiotherapy: Part 2. Clinical application.
We have performed radiotherapy treatment planning (RTP) with a new system called CT simulator in 72 patients. With the system, RTP is performed with the patient lying on the CT couch within a short period of time. All the CT images scanned were immediately transported to the multi-image monitors and to the treatment planning device. Radiotherapy treatment planning could be performed not only at the beam center but also at any CT slice. Using a laser-beam field projector, field outlines were drawn over the patient's skin. In clinical use, the system was useful for cases in which a target lies adjacent to dose limiting organs, cases with a complicated target shape, cases with complicated dose distribution curves, and cases treated with tangential fields. This system enables us to make optimum use of CT information and to make accurate 3-dimensional treatment planning programs.
Nagata
Y
Y
Department of Radiology, Kyoto University, Japan.
Nishidai
T
T
Abe
M
M
Takahashi
M
M
Okajima
K
K
Yamaoka
N
N
Ishihara
H
H
Kubo
Y
Y
Ohta
H
H
Kazusa
C
C
D003198:Computer Simulation; D003199:Computer Systems; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted; D011881:Radiotherapy, Computer-Assisted; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed