The impact of CT CORRELATE ScoutView images on radiation therapy planning.

CORRELATE is a new computer software program for CT that enables a radiologist to mark tumor margins on traditional CT cross-sectional images and then display the outline of that same tumor on CT ScoutView images. This function is particularly useful for radiation therapy planning because CORRELATE ScoutView images are in the same longitudinal plane as simulation radiographs used for tumor localization in radiation therapy. The impact of CORRELATE on the radiation therapy planning process was measured in 83 patients with various tumors. Therapy planning was performed before and after CORRELATE information was made available to the radiation therapist. CORRELATE information caused a change in the therapy plan in 77% of the cases and increased confidence in the therapy plan in an additional 22%. CORRELATE provides a useful and accurate tool for tumor localization.