Digital radiotherapy simulator.

ABSTRACT

We describe a prototype digital radiotherapy simulator which consists of a conventional simulator gantry, digital spot imager, and image correction and reconstruction software. The ability of the digital spot imager to acquire a diagnostic quality image directly in digital format during simulation offers unique possibilities in clinical practice. Applications include prescription of multileaf collimator, on-line patient setup verification, remote consultation and treatment planning. In addition, we discuss the possibility of using the digital simulator as a volume-CT scanner capable of obtaining three-dimensional anatomical information in a single scan.