What should be included in dose computations for accurate results?

Dose computations in medical dosimetry must account for a variety of factors to ensure accurate delivery of radiation therapy. Including CT numbers for inhomogeneities is essential because these numbers provide critical information about the tissue characteristics within the treatment area. Inhomogeneities can significantly affect how radiation interacts with tissues; for example, variations in density, composition, and structure influence the scattering and absorption of radiation. Accurate representation of these inhomogeneities allows dosimetrists to calculate the dose more precisely, leading to optimal treatment planning, minimizing damage to healthy tissue while maximizing the dose delivered to the tumor.

Other factors mentioned, such as physical dimensions, a patient's age and weight, or the type of radiation, are important but do not provide a comprehensive basis for calculating dose distribution. While they contribute to the overall treatment planning, solely relying on them without accounting for the tissue inhomogeneities would lead to an inaccurate representation of dose distribution. Hence, including CT numbers for inhomogeneities is crucial for precise dose computation in radiation therapy.