What type of shaped fields can the collimators of conventional teletherapy units produce?

Collimators in conventional teletherapy units are fundamental for defining the treatment area during radiation therapy. The collimators are specifically designed to produce square and rectangular fields, which are essential for targeting tumors while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissues.

Square fields are uniform and provide consistent dosage across the area, while rectangular fields allow for greater flexibility in treatment planning, accommodating various tumor shapes and sizes. This versatility is crucial for maximizing therapeutic effectiveness while safeguarding adjacent healthy structures.

While circular fields can be produced, they are typically associated with specific techniques or specialized devices rather than conventional collimation in teletherapy. Similarly, asymmetric fields, which may have varied widths on different sides, are generally a feature of advanced treatment techniques like IMRT or VMAT, but not a standard feature of conventional collimators. Thus, focusing on square and rectangular fields accurately reflects the capabilities of collimators in traditional teletherapy settings.