Digitalization and networking of analog simulators and portal images.
BACKGROUND
Many departments have analog simulators and irradiation facilities (especially cobalt units) without electronic portal imaging. Import of the images into the R&V (Record & Verify) system is required.


METHODS
Simulator images are grabbed while portal films scanned by using a laser scanner and both converted into DICOM RT (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine Radiotherapy) images.


RESULTS
Image intensifier output of a simulator and portal films are converted to DICOM RT images and used in clinical practice. The simulator software was developed in cooperation at the authors' hospital.


CONCLUSIONS
The digitalization of analog simulators is a valuable updating in clinical use replacing screen-film technique. Film scanning and digitalization permit the electronic archiving of films. Conversion into DICOM RT images is a precondition of importing to the R&V system.
Pesznyák
Csilla
C
Institute of Oncoradiology, Uzsoki Hospital, Uzsoki u. 29, 1145, Budapest, Hungary. pesznyak@uzsoki.hu
Zaránd
Pál
P
Mayer
Arpád
A
D000703:Analog-Digital Conversion; D003195:Computer Communication Networks; D003198:Computer Simulation; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D011867:Radioisotope Teletherapy; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted; D012984:Software; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D014963:X-Ray Intensifying Screens