title: Development of an integrated radiotherapy network system.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To introduce the process of developing an integrated radiotherapy network.
  
  
  METHODS
  We developed a new radiotherapy treatment-planning system in 1987 that we named the Computer Tomography (CT) simulator. CT images were immediately transported to multiimage monitors and to a planning computer, and treatment planning could be performed with the patient lying on the CT couch. The results of planning were used to guide a laser projector, and radiation fields were projected onto the skin of the patient. Since 1991, an integrated radiotherapy network system has been developed, which consists of a picture archiving and communicating system (PACS), a radiotherapy information database, a CT simulator, and a linear accelerator with a multileaf collimator.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinical experience has been accumulated in more than 1,000 patients. Based on our 7 years of experience, we have modified several components of our original CT simulator and have developed a second generation CT simulator. A standard protocol has been developed for communication between the CT scanner, treatment planning computer, and radiotherapy apparatus using the Ethernet network. As a result, treatment planning data can be transported to the linear accelerator within 1 min after completion of treatment planning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This system enables us to make optimal use of CT information and to devise accurate three-dimensional (3D) treatment-planning programs. Our network also allows for the performance of fully computer-controlled dynamic arc conformal therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Kyoto University Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nagata
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okajima
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Murata
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mitsumori
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mizowaki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hiraoka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishidai
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakata
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugahara
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arimura
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hosoba
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Morisawa
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kazusa
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ai
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kokubo
mesh_terms: D003195:Computer Communication Networks / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D011873:Radiology Information Systems / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed