Pre Treatment Planning Radiotherapy

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Applied Physics of Radiotherapy Radiotherapy is when high-energy ionising radiation is used in order to cure or relieve symptoms and reduce the chance of the cancer returning after surgery. The localisation of the tumour is a crucial step during planning as this is used to determine the location and extent of the disease in relation to normal tissues surrounding the tumour. It is the process where the patient is imaged, and their outline is obtained. This essay will discuss the aims of pre-treatment planning and discuss the various types of radiotherapy techniques used in the treatment of malignant disease. The rationale for each technique will be explored and examples will be applied for when each technique may be used. Radiotherapy has contributed to 40% of all cured cancers. (Health protection agency,2013). In most cases, Linear accelerators are used and in others, supervoltage and orthovoltage equipment. When treatment occurs, x-ray beams are directed very accurately to the relevant areas of the body using highly sophisticated machinery. Reliable and accurate knowledge of the tumour site, surrounding structures and its extent is essential in order to avoid the risk of inadequate dosage. The planning stage has to be accurate because any data obtained at this stage, if they are any errors, will be propagated during the course of treatment. This is also because the way the patient would be set up in terms of how they will be lying on the couch and any equipment used, will be how they would be set up day to day during their treatment. This would be different for each individual in terms of the immobilisation, set up, dose distribution, the size and shape of the beam, and patient positioning. Ct scanners, radiation therapy simulators, MRI scanners, PET scanners, CT simulators and Ultrasound imaging, all play a vital part at this stage. The simulator

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