The whole process of radiotherapy mainly includes information registration, mold making, simulation positioning, target area outlining, plan design, plan verification, CT reset, formal treatment, and follow-up treatment at the end of radiotherapy.
1. Information registration: patients are registered after admission to the hospital, and the doctor contacts the radiotherapy center to arrange the time.
2. Mold making: patients make the mold according to the doctor’s prescription and the technician’s requirements.
3. Simulation of positioning: After the mold is made, the simulation of positioning is started. Simulation of positioning is also called the initial positioning, and the positioning film is the basis of the radiotherapy plan.
4. Target area sketching: after completing CT scanning and 3D reconstruction, the doctor will sketch the target area and critical organs, which is the most complicated and critical step of radiotherapy.
5. Plan design: After the doctor completes the outline of the target area, he/she will give the prescribed dose for each target area of the tumor and the normal tissue limit value to the physicists to make the radiotherapy plan.
6. Plan validation: according to the patient’s plan, the physicists will make a validation plan and implement it on the gas pedal.
7. CT reset: reset is also called secondary localization to determine the isocenter during real treatment.
8. Formal treatment: use cone-beam CT guidance before the start, correct the positioning error and then carry out formal radiotherapy, and pay attention to changes in the patient’s condition at any time during the treatment.
9. Follow-up treatment: Pay attention to protect the skin in the irradiation field, reduce breakage and prevent ultraviolet radiation. Regularly review the relevant examinations and observe whether there are side effects such as bone marrow suppression. The positioning line should be protected, and inadvertent loss may require repositioning for radiotherapy planning.
The whole course of radiotherapy should depend on the arrangement of the hospital department, and related problems should be consulted with specialized radiotherapists.