title: Compensability index for compensation radiotherapy after treatment interruptions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The goal of our work was to develop a simple method to evaluate a compensation treatment after unplanned treatment interruptions with respect to their tumour- and normal tissue effect.
  
  
  METHODS
  We developed a software tool in java programming language based on existing recommendations to compensate for treatment interruptions. In order to express and visualize the deviations from the originally planned tumour and normal tissue effects we defined the compensability index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The compensability index represents an evaluation of the suitability of compensatory radiotherapy in a single number based on the number of days used for compensation and the preference of preserving the originally planned tumour effect or not exceeding the originally planned normal tissue effect. An automated tool provides a method for quick evaluation of compensation treatments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The compensability index calculation may serve as a decision support system based on existing and established recommendations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, Rorschacherstrasse 95, St. Gallen 9000, Switzerland. Paul.Putora@kssg.ch
authors.forename: Paul Martin
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Putora
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmuecking
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Aebersold
authors.forename: Ludwig
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Plasswilm
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D012984:Software