Nomenclature in radiotherapy

Abstract

In order to enable a meaningful comparison of therapeutic results within one hospital and/or between different institutions - concepts for a common language are essential. Such a concept is provided by the ICRU report 50. It recommends methods for specifying volumes and doses to be used for prescription, recording and reporting of a radiation treatment in external photon beam therapy. A supplement to the ICRU-50 Report is additionally treating the problem of internal and set-up margin encompassing the clinical target volume. Furthermore, the new useful parameter called the conformity index was introduced. Finally, the nomenclature for the specification of dose distribution is introduced using the concept of the ICRU reference point. The criteria how to select this point is demonstrated using simple examples of different treatment plans. © 2009 Springer Science + Business Media B.V.