OPTIMIZATION OF CONFORMAL RADIOTHERAPY DOSE DISTRIBUTIONS BY SIMULATED ANNEALING .2. INCLUSION OF SCATTER IN THE 2D TECHNIQUE

Part 1 used the simulated annealing optimization method to deduce the beam profiles and showed how target areas with concave borders, containing organs at risk, could be achieved for a variety of clinical problems posed in the literature. In order to establish the method a simple 'primary-only' beam model was used. The author now reports further developments with this treatment planning technique to include scattered radiation. An extension of the method into three dimensions has also recently been completed (Webb, 1990,1991).