title: [Design of a 3D afterloading brachytherapy simulation system based on CT images].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To design a new afterloading brachytherapy simulation system based on CT images.
  
  
  METHODS
  This paper mainly focuses on the anthropomorphic pelvic phantom spiled by three pipelines and the nasopharyngeal carcinoma spiled by two pipelines. Microsoft Visual C++ was used to parse CT images for some information, then to reconstruct pipelines in the body of phantom or the patient and to give the three-dimensional coordinate of dwelling points. The dose distribution displayed on CT images was processed by the dose distribution calculation methods near single afterloading source and the dose optimization methods. VTK technology was used in the 3D display in the system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to the reference points applied by doctors, the system can calculate reversely the dwelling time of dwelling points in pipelines and get satisfying dose distribution on CT images. Besides, it can reflect the 3D relationship between the dose volume and the normal tissues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This system overcomes some deficiencies of 2D afterloading brachytherapy simulation system based on X-ray films which are used widely in China. It supplies 3D display of dose distribution for clinical doctors. At present, the system is being tested in clinics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou. bme2000-yuhui@163.com
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Hai-Rong
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Shu-Xu
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yu-Sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Jian-Yang
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Qian
mesh_terms: D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000379:methods*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D012984:Software; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed