Accuracy and efficiency go hand in hand in radiation therapy. Radiation therapists, dosimetrists, and medical physicists know that the foundation of every successful treatment plan starts with one critical step: CT simulation. It’s where precise planning begins—and where small errors can lead to major downstream challenges.
One common source of frustration in the simulation process is the interference of traditional skin markers in the automatic body contour. It might seem like a minor inconvenience, but when you’re trying to stay on schedule, minimize patient discomfort, and support seamless planning, every second and every scan matters.
The Problem: Traditional Skin Markers and Auto-Contouring Errors
CT simulation is designed to provide a clear, accurate image of a patient’s treatment area. These images are used to develop highly customized radiation plans that align perfectly with the patient’s anatomy. As part of this process, automatic body contouring software is used to define the patient’s external surface.
However, standard skin markers, which sit directly on the skin, are often picked up by this software. When these markers are included in the auto-contour, they create inaccurate outlines that require manual editing. This introduces unnecessary delays for dosimetrists, disrupts workflows, and increases the risk of errors.
From a therapist’s perspective, these interruptions can result in time-consuming do-overs or miscommunication between team members. For patients, it may mean a longer scan session, increased anxiety, or even the need to return for a repeat simulation.
In short, when a skin marker interferes with auto-contouring, it doesn’t just add time—it adds friction to a process that demands smooth collaboration.
The Solution: RT-SPOT® Elevated Skin Markers
That’s where RT-SPOT® elevated skin markers for CT simulation come in. Unlike standard markers, the RT-SPOT skin marker is elevated from the skin line, making it the only skin marker designed specifically to stay out of the auto-contour field.
This elevated design ensures the marker appears clearly on the scan for localization and alignment purposes, but avoids being included in the body contour. That means less time editing contours, fewer workflow disruptions, and greater peace of mind for planners and therapists alike.
With RT-SPOT, you can trust that your simulation images will be ready for planning, no manual workarounds required.
Real-World Benefits for Your Radiation Therapy Team:
Using RT-SPOT doesn’t just improve the scan; it improves the entire simulation experience for every member of the care team.
For Radiation Therapists:
RT-SPOT is easy to apply, adheres to the patient's skin, and remains in place throughout the entire CT-scan. Because the marker is elevated, therapists can continue using it as a clear anatomical reference point without worrying about it interfering with imaging data.
For Dosimetrists and Physicists:
Clean, artifact-free images speed up the treatment planning process and reduce time spent editing contours. The result is improved workflow efficiency and fewer delays between simulation and plan approval.
For Patients: 
They spend less time on the table, endure fewer repeats, scans, and have a smoother simulation experience. And, when the process is seamless, patients feel more confident and supported.
This single product solves multiple pain points across the treatment planning team and allows each person to focus on their strengths, rather than on fixing preventable issues.
Why Accuracy and Efficiency Go Hand in Hand
Radiation therapy teams are under constant pressure to do more with less—more patients, more complex cases, less time. That means any tool that helps you get it right the first time is more than a convenience. It’s a game-changer.
RT-SPOT skin markers eliminate a source of common, recurring errors at the simulation stage. This simple change has a compounding benefit: more accurate planning, better communication between roles, and increased trust in the workflow.
Designed with Purpose: Beekley Medical’s Commitment to Smarter Tools
Beekley Medical developed RT-SPOT to directly address the challenges clinicians face with traditional skin markers—specifically those that interfere with automatic body contouring during CT simulation.
We heard from radiation therapists and planners that they needed a marker that was highly visible, easy to place, and would stay out of the way during body contour generation.
The result is a product line that reflects real-world, clinical needs while improving workflow and precision.
The RT-SPOT family includes three distinct shapes to accommodate a wide range of clinical scenarios: line, pellet, and crosshair. Each shape is elevated from the skin line to help exclude the marker from the automatic body contour, a key advantage in improving scan clarity and minimizing downstream corrections.
RT-SPOT Line provides clear lateral orientation and can be used to mark field borders, tangents, and scars, and the RT-SPOT Pellets (2.3mm and 4.0mm) offer a small, pinpoint reference for 3-point set-ups, isocenters, central-axis, while the RT-SPOT Crosshair delivers both horizontal and vertical axis localization for multi-slice visibility.
This variety allows teams to choose the best shape for each anatomical site or clinical use case, giving them greater control and flexibility. RT-SPOT’s thoughtful design is part of Beekley’s broader mission to create tools that enhance outcomes while making day-to-day clinical tasks easier. It's about smarter tools that reduce friction and empower care teams to perform at their best.
Conclusion: Get It Right the First Time
CT simulation is too important to leave room for error. And in a field where accuracy and timing are everything, the tools you use should support both. RT-SPOT skin markers help radiation oncology teams reduce rework, increase efficiency, and plan with confidence from the start.
It’s time to rethink how a small skin marker can make a big difference.
Contact your Radiation Therapy Account Manager at 1.800.233-5539 or info@beekley.com to learn more about requesting samples for a trial evaluation at your facility.
