Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- electronrt:userguide:tutorials:electron_beams [2021/07/29 18:28] – external edit 127.0.0.1
+++ electronrt:userguide:tutorials:electron_beams [2025/11/28 16:11] (current) – kerhart
@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
   * **Delete**: Remove this beam from the plan.
-<imgcaption beams_2|Existing Beam Example>{{ :electronrt:userguide:tutorials:decimal_electronrt_beams_editing_beam.png?direct&400 }}</imgcaption>
+<imgcaption beams_2|Existing Beam Example>{{ :electronrt:userguide:tutorials:decimal_electronrt_beams_block.png?direct&400 }}</imgcaption>
 The editing dialog allows the user to edit any property of the beams that is defined in the "Structure of a Beam" section below. All changes made in this section will be saved to the beam once the user selects "Done".
@@ Line 54: / Line 54: @@
         - The gantry angle is less than 5.0 or greater than 355.0 degrees
         - The couch angle is less than 10.0 or greater than 350.0 degrees
-      - **Beam Energy:** The minimum commissioned energy with an R90 large enough to reach the deepest portion of the distal surface of the target
+      - **Beam Energy:** The minimum commissioned energy with an R90 large enough to reach the deepest portion of the distal surface of the target.
-      - **Block Size:** The smallest fitting block size enabled for the selected treatment machine
+      - **Beam Normalization:** If a matching [[electronrt:userguide:tutorials:all_tutorials#site_settings|normalization template]] is found this will automatically be applied.
+      - **Block Size:** The smallest fitting block size enabled for the selected treatment machine.
 <imgcaption beams_6|Geometric Target Options>{{ :electronrt:userguide:tutorials:decimal_electronrt_beams_new_beam_target.png?direct&400 }}</imgcaption>
@@ Line 101: / Line 102: @@
 ==== Electron Beam Normalization ====
-In this block the user can specify how the electron beam will be normalized to scale the computed relative dose (%) to absolute (Gy) dose. The eRT application provides the following normalization options:
+In this block the user can specify how the electron beam will be normalized. Absolute dose based normalization can be selected to scale the computed relative dose (%) to absolute (Gy) dose.
-<WRAP center round tip 60%>
+If the Course is assigned a treatment site with a [[[electronrt:userguide:tutorials:all_tutorials#plan_defaults_templates|beam normalization template]] and the the selected geometric target is one of the prescription structures, the normalization will be set according to the template in the treatment site. If the the geometric target is not a prescription structure, the absolute dose value must be set by the user. Refer to [[electronrt:userguide:tutorials:all_tutorials#plan_defaults_templates|Editing the Site Settings]] to set a beam normalization template.
-**Note:**\\
-When creating a new Electron Beam you will be unable to see your beam approach or dose until a beam normalization is fully specified.
-</WRAP>
-<imgcaption beam_normalization|Beam Normalization>{{ :electronrt:userguide:tutorials:decimal_electronrt_beams_normalization.png?direct&400 |}}</imgcaption>
+<imgcaption beam_normalization|Absolute Dose Beam Normalization>{{ :electronrt:userguide:tutorials:absolute_dose_based_normalization.png?direct&400 |}}</imgcaption>
+If MU dose conversion tables exist in the machine selected for the plan, MU based normalization can be selected to scale the relative dose based on a user specified MU value per fraction. In this case, the absolute beam dose value is calculated based on the given MU value per fraction. MU dose conversion data tables can be imported in the [[:electronrt:userguide:tutorials:all_tutorials#machine_settings|Site Configuration Machine Settings]].
+<imgcaption beam_normalization|MU Based Beam Normalization>{{ :electronrt:userguide:tutorials:mu_based_normalization.png?direct&400 |}}</imgcaption>
+The eRT application provides the following options for absolute dose based normalization:
   * **Location**: Normalize the dose to a small spherical volume surrounding a specific point.
-    * Users are able to specify the sphere's center point, sphere radius, and the absolute dose value to set.
+    * Users are able to specify the sphere's center point and radius.
     * The average //Given Dose// within the specified sphere is computed and set to the //Absolute Beam Dose// value when normalizing the beam.
     * The normalization sphere will be shown in the sliced views when this location-based normalization option is used.
   * **Structure**: Normalize the dose to a structure from the imported DICOM Structure Set. The following structure options are available to normalize dose to a structure:
-    * **Min**: The minimum //Given Dose// within the specified structure is found and this value is set to the provided //Absolute Beam Dose// value.
+    * **Min**: The minimum //Given Dose// within the specified structure is found and this value is set to the //Absolute Beam Dose// value.
-    * **Mean**: The average //Given Dose// within the specified structure is computed and this value is set to the provided //Absolute Beam Dose// value.
+    * **Mean**: The average //Given Dose// within the specified structure is computed and this value is set to the //Absolute Beam Dose// value.
-    * **Vol**: The //Given Dose// covering the specified fraction of the structure is computed and this value is set to the provided //Absolute Beam Dose// value.
+    * **Vol**: The //Given Dose// covering the specified fraction of the structure is computed and this value is set to the //Absolute Beam Dose// value.
-  * **Isodose**: Set a specific //Given Dose// value to the specified //Absolute Beam Dose// value.
+  * **Isodose**: Set a specific //Given Dose// value to the //Absolute Beam Dose// value.
 <imgcaption beam_normalization_sphere|Location Normalization Sphere>{{ :electronrt:userguide:tutorials:decimal_electronrt_beams_normalization_sphere.png?direct&400 |}}</imgcaption>
@@ Line 132: / Line 137: @@
 Here the user can add or edit a bolus for this beam, more details on bolus creation can be found in the [[electronrt:userguide:tutorials:electron_bolus|Electron Bolus Creation]] section below (Intensity Modulators can also be added here).
+==== Dose Calculation ====
+The eRT application automatically runs the dose calculation anytime the beam configuration is altered by the user, there is no need to explicitly compute dose. Whenever a dose is displayed on the screen, you can be sure it is the dose corresponding to the currently specified beam information (there may be a slight 2-4 second delay after modifying a beam parameter in which time the prior dose result is still visible, this is to ensure the user has finished their current edits and avoids starting extra, unwanted dose calculations).
+Please read the [[electronrt:userguide:instructions_for_use:dose_algorithms|Dose Calculation Algorithms page]] for a complete description of the dose calculation algorithms used within the eRT application.