What outcome does incorrect design or use of treatment accessories lead to?

Incorrect design or use of treatment accessories can lead to field placement errors, which can significantly impact the precision of radiation delivery to the intended treatment area. Treatment accessories, such as bolus materials or immobilization devices, are crucial for ensuring that the radiation beams are directed accurately to the tumor while sparing surrounding healthy tissues. When these accessories are not designed or utilized correctly, the positioning of the radiation field may be compromised, resulting in misalignment with the target volume. This misalignment can lead to inadequate treatment of the tumor or unintended exposure of healthy tissues to radiation, severely affecting the outcome of the treatment.

Field placement errors can also lead to variations in radiation dose distribution, which may cause underdosing of the tumor or overdosing of adjacent normal structures, potentially leading to treatment failures or increased side effects. Hence, ensuring that treatment accessories are correctly designed and applied is essential for achieving the desired therapeutic outcomes and maximizing the efficacy of the treatment regimen.