ABSTRACT
The eIMRT platform is a remote distributed computing tool that provides users Internet access to several services such as CRT and IMRT virtual verification of a planned treatment using highly accurate Monte Carlo simulations. Verification of the IMRT treatments is a compulsory procedure, which involves experimental measurements using a phantom. It is a time-consuming process, in terms of an accelerator’s operational time and human resources. The virtual verification stage plays a significant role in the radiotherapy treatment chain as it allows comparison between the dose distributions calculated for a given treatment plan using an in-hospital Treatment Planning System (TPS) and 530those calculated employing Monte Carlo simulations. Goals for this comparison are to detect possible regions of dose disagreement, their causes, and to assess consequences to the patient.
These services, designed as a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), are accessible through a user-friendly and platform-independent web page as well as through web services. Its flexible and scalable design focuses on providing the final users with services rather than a collection of software pieces. The service can contribute to the improvement and quality assurance of treatments in medical institutions, with no need for investments in new equipment and software components.
Monte Carlo simulations demand a lot of computer time. To overcome this high demand, the service provider can obtain a highly flexible and scalable resource pool using Cloud computing. The number of resources can be increased by provider aggregation and varies dynamically, avoiding unwanted overloads. Using Cloud computing, the platform returns the full Monte Carlo simulation in few hours, which is an acceptable time-to-solution level to be used on a daily basis. It also reduces the cost, as the accelerator’s operational downtime to check the treatment is not required. Therefore, it is an open possibility for development in the clinical environment.
