A new calculator for radiotherapy treatment planning

Comparison of speed and costs of the programmable desk calculator and the minocomputer reveals that although the desk calculator is slower, most operations are simple dose and treatment time calculations in which the turn-around time is essentially immediate. Assuming a five-year equipment capitalization of the initial $24,000 cost and $1,700 per annum maintenance charge with a workload of 800 plans per year, the cost per plan is about $8.00. This does not include programmer salaries.