Future of veterinary radiation oncology.

Rapid developments in technology will have a profound effect on veterinary radiation oncology. These developments include computer-enhanced, three-dimensional treatment planning and smaller, more compact, more reliable radiation equipment, primarily linear accelerators. For treatment of all veterinary patients, the linear accelerators need electron capability. Although fractionated therapy will remain the standard from of treatment, new modalities, including a highly precise single-dose treatment called radiosurgery, and a precise fractionated therapy called conformal therapy, will be utilized more in the future.