The role of computed tomography in the planning of radiotherapy fields.

Until recently, acquisition of accurate data concerning tumor anatomy lagged behind other developments in radiotherapy. With the advent of computed tomography (CT), these data can be displayed and transmitted to a treatment planning computer. CT information concerning tumor location, irradiated volume, and dosimetry were compared with results obtained by traditional methods. Of 201 consecutive patients examined, CT was found to be helpful in 36% (pelvic tumors, 48%; chest wall tumors, 2%; intrathoracic tumors, 54%; palliative treatment, 27%).