What role does a compensator play in radiation therapy?

In radiation therapy, a compensator is used to modify the radiation beam in order to ensure that the prescribed dose is delivered accurately to the tumor while minimizing radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissues. The main function of a compensator is to absorb and reshape the radiation beam, allowing for variations in tissue thickness or density that might affect the dose distribution. By doing so, compensators help create a more uniform dose to the tumor volume, accommodating the varied geometry of the patient's anatomy.

In treatment planning, when certain areas of the tumor are more superficial or deeper than others, compensators can help to equalize the dose distribution across these variable areas. This is essential for optimizing the therapeutic effects of radiation while avoiding damage to adjacent organs and tissues. The ability to modify the radiation beam in this manner is critical to achieving the desired outcomes in radiation therapy.