3D Simulation of external beam radiotherapy

Abstract

Cancer belongs to a group of disease characterized by tumor growth and spread, and is the most significant health care problem in European and Western Countries. The clinical processes used to treat cancer can be separated into drug treatments, radiation therapy [Meyer96] (RT) treatment or even a combination of them [Zambo94]. RT uses radiation in order to deliver a very accurate dose of radiation to a well-defined target volume with minimal damage to surrounding healthy tissues. The wanted result is the eradication of the disease and the improvement or prolongation of patient's life. The amount of required dose can be applied on the tumor site using external beam radiotherapy or brachytherapy [Kolot99]. Hence RT is a very demanding process that requires accuracy and affectivity not only for the elimination of the cancer sells but also for the protection of the healthy organs within the human body. In this dissertation it is of interest the radiation therapy process (RTP) using external beam radiotherapy (EBRA).