The CT-simulator and the Simulator-CT: Advantages, Disadvantages, and Future Developments

The idea of using a CT unit in place of a conventional gantry-mounted radiographic/fluoroscopic x-ray simulator is not new. A converted CT unit, called a CT-simulator, capable of marking treatment field outlines on a patient, has been available in the United States since 1981 (originally manufactured by Pfizer Medical Corp. and now available through Medical High Technology International, Inc., Clearwater, Fl.). (Galvin et al. 1982). A short time later similar equipment was introduced in Japan (Endo et al. 1982). There is currently renewed interest in this technique. Two additional manufacturers in the United States now offer something called a CT-simulator [CT-simulators marketed by Siemens Medical Systems, Inc., Island, N.J. and the unit manufactured by Picker Medical Systems (marketed by Varian, Palo Alto, Calif.)] and two others are showing work-in-progress for their CT-simulator projects (GE Medical Systems, Milwaukee, Wisc. and Philips Medical Systems North America, Shelton, Conn.).