title: A method of gap and field size determination for abutting a treatment field to a previously treated area.
abstract: A simple method of determining the new field size and the skin gap needed when abutting to a previously treated (or simulated) field is presented. The more complex case of abutting a treatment field between two previously treated fields and determining the new field length and the skin gap at each end is also addressed. Both methods utilize a single measurement on the patient's skin and the commonly used gap formula based on similar triangles. Both methods easily lend themselves to implementation through a simple BASIC program which eases any difficulties in calculation encountered during simulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Therapy, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo 43699, USA.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Ayyangar
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted; D012867:Skin / Q000528:radiation effects; D012984:Software