ABSTRACT
Radiation therapy is a multidisciplinary science. It requires continuous and accurate communication between physicians, clinical physicists, treatment planners, therapists, and nurses. The goal of treatment planning is to design the best possible treatment, given the limitations of the radiation therapy equipment available. A good treatment plan ensures the delivery of the desired dose to the tumor while delivering the lowest possible dose to surrounding normal tissues. Treatment planning allows those responsible for the radiation treatment of a patient, i.e. the radiation oncologist and clinical physicist, to determine the three-dimensional (3D) dose distribution that will be delivered to the patient. Clinical information consists of imaging data and the radiation oncologist’s intent, i.e. a dose prescription for the target and dose limits for surrounding healthy tissues. The physician also provides a prescription, in dose to be delivered to the target and dose constraints for the organs at risk (OAR).
