What is likely to occur if beam data is not generated for each machine before clinical use?

If beam data is not generated for each machine before clinical use, the treatment may indeed be less effective. Beam data refers to the crucial information about how the radiation beam behaves when it interacts with a patient’s anatomy, including aspects like dose distribution, energy profiles, and scatter characteristics. This data is essential for the accurate modeling of the treatment plan and ensures that the prescribed dose reaches the target tumor while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.

Without proper beam data, treatment plans might not deliver the intended dose, which can result in suboptimal treatment outcomes. This discrepancy can lead to either underdosing the tumor, which could allow cancer to progress, or overdosing healthy tissue, which can cause unnecessary side effects and complications. Thus, generating beam data is a critical step before clinical use to ensure that each patient's treatment is both effective and safe.