simulation

Meaning of simulation: In radiation therapy, simulation is the planning session that uses imaging to map a patient's anatomy and precisely target the treatment area.

Definition of simulation

In cancer treatment, simulation is a planning session used to prepare for a course of radiation therapy before any treatment is actually delivered. During simulation, the patient is positioned exactly as they will be for each treatment session, and imaging, typically a CT scan, is obtained to map the location of the target area and the surrounding healthy tissue.

Simulation often involves creating a personalized immobilization device, such as a mask or mold, that helps the patient hold the same position consistently at every treatment visit. Small marks or reference points may also be placed on the skin to help align the patient correctly during each subsequent session.

The images and measurements gathered during simulation allow a radiation oncologist and medical physicist to design a treatment plan that directs radiation precisely at the intended target while limiting exposure to nearby healthy tissue as much as possible.