Important Radiation Therapy Terms
longitudinal - Answer y-axis used for positioning a patient in the "in/out"
direction
lateral - Answer x-axis used for positioning a patient left/right
vertical - Answer z-axis used for positioning a patient up/down
pitch - Answer direction that refers to tilting a patient up/down
yaw - Answer direction that refers to rotating the patient
roll - Answer direction that refers to leveling the patient
time out - Answer official identification of a patient with at least two forms of
identification
IMRT DQA - Answer quality assurance check that is completed by physics on
every IMRT plan before it can be used for treatment
TPO (treatment planning order) - Answer order placed by resident/doctor to
indicate what a patients treatment plan will be like before the plan is actually made
- indicates number of fractions, if there are any boosts, if the patient will receive
chemotherapy, etc.
OTV - Answer weekly visit that radiation oncologists have with all of their
patients
