ABSTRACT
Radiotherapy is inherently a data-rich medical specialty, requiring imaging at many steps in the patient management process, including disease workup, treatment planning, treatment delivery, treatment follow-up, and possible retreatments. Data components produced include 3D images for diagnosis and simulation of treatment, markup of images for anatomic segmentation, target volume specification, volumetric (3D) dose calculations, treatment machine commands, treatment setup images, and patient management records. The relationships between all these data elements are also important. Newer data sources include intratreatment monitoring of position via real-time fiducial marker
location. Research and development require the intensive study of these data sources to better understand the relationship to outcomes. These factors create a need for adequate research informatics software tools whether for research or clinical development.
