Computed tomography in radiation therapy treatment planning: The diagnostician

A major impact of computed tomography (CT) has been in the area of diagnosis, staging, treatment, and follow-up of malignant disease. The heretofore unobtainable cross-sectional information outlining tumor volumes and relationships with adjacent normal anatomic structures has resulted in the design and implementation of potentially more accurate and complex radiation treatment plans. This should result in a higher percentage of local tumor control and lower incidence of complications. As few radiation therapy departments at present have the luxury of a dedicated CT unit or radiologist, an open dialogue and understanding between these specialities is necessary to utilize all the potential information available from this modality