Purpose: Add radiographic context to the beam's-eye-view used in 3-dimensional treatment planning. Improve methods for interactive visualization of anatomy and dose distributions.
Methods and materials: Most 3-dimensional treatment planning systems feature a beam's-eye view that includes only graphical representations of patient anatomy. With input devices such as a mouse or trackball, the user interactively shapes the treatment field using the graphical models to provide geometric information. Radiographic context provides additional geometric information important for determining field shape. We have implemented digitally reconstructed fluoroscopy in the beam's-eye view by increasing the efficiency for computing digitally reconstructed radiographs. In addition we have improved algorithms for real-time surface and volume rendering for anatomy and doses using an experimental graphics supercomputer.
Results: Without radiographic context in the beam's-eye-view, field shapes were sometimes changed after simulation or portal images were obtained. Digitally reconstructed fluoroscopy has essentially eliminated these changes. Higher quality interactive three-dimensional displays improve the comprehension, confidence and efficiency of the user. Our improvements have already been implemented on one model of a new generation of commercial graphics workstations.
Conclusion: Addition of radiographic context to the beam's-eye-view is recommended. Incorporation of higher quality interactive graphics is rapidly becoming practical and is encouraged.