An overview of Monte Carlo treatment planning for radiotherapy.

The implementation of Monte Carlo dose calculation algorithms in clinical radiotherapy treatment planning systems has been anticipated for many years. Despite a continuous increase of interest in Monte Carlo Treatment Planning (MCTP), its introduction into clinical practice has been delayed by the extent of calculation time required. The development of newer and faster MC codes is behind the commercialisation of the first MC-based treatment planning systems. The intended scope of this article is to provide the reader with a compact 'primer' on different approaches to MCTP with particular attention to the latest developments in the field.