A point dose method for in vivo range verification in proton therapy. 2008

Hsiao-Ming Lu
Francis H. Burr Proton Therapy Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA. hmlu@partners.org

Range uncertainty in proton therapy is a recognized concern. For certain treatment sites, less optimal beam directions are used to avoid the potential risk, but also with reduced benefit. In vivo dosimetry, with implanted or intra-cavity dosimeters, has been widely used for treatment verification in photon/electron therapy. The method cannot, however, verify the beam range for proton treatment, unless we deliver the treatment in a different manner. Specifically, we split the spread-out Bragg peaks in a proton field into two separate fields, each delivering a 'sloped' depth-dose distribution, rather than the usual plateau in a typical proton field. The two fields are 'sloped' in opposite directions so that the total depth-dose distribution retains the constant dose plateau covering the target volume. By measuring the doses received from both fields and calculating the ratio, the water-equivalent path length to the location of the implanted dosimeter can be verified, thus limiting range uncertainty to only the remaining part of the beam path. Production of such subfields has been experimented with a passive scattering beam delivery system. Phantom measurements have been performed to illustrate the application for in vivo beam range verification.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011874 Radiometry The measurement of radiation by photography, as in x-ray film and film badge, by Geiger-Mueller tube, and by SCINTILLATION COUNTING. Geiger-Mueller Counters,Nuclear Track Detection,Radiation Dosimetry,Dosimetry, Radiation,Geiger Counter,Geiger-Mueller Counter Tube,Geiger-Mueller Probe,Geiger-Mueller Tube,Radiation Counter,Counter Tube, Geiger-Mueller,Counter Tubes, Geiger-Mueller,Counter, Geiger,Counter, Radiation,Counters, Geiger,Counters, Geiger-Mueller,Counters, Radiation,Detection, Nuclear Track,Dosimetries, Radiation,Geiger Counters,Geiger Mueller Counter Tube,Geiger Mueller Counters,Geiger Mueller Probe,Geiger Mueller Tube,Geiger-Mueller Counter Tubes,Geiger-Mueller Probes,Geiger-Mueller Tubes,Probe, Geiger-Mueller,Probes, Geiger-Mueller,Radiation Counters,Radiation Dosimetries,Tube, Geiger-Mueller,Tube, Geiger-Mueller Counter,Tubes, Geiger-Mueller,Tubes, Geiger-Mueller Counter
D011879 Radiotherapy Dosage The total amount of radiation absorbed by tissues as a result of radiotherapy. Dosage, Radiotherapy,Dosages, Radiotherapy,Radiotherapy Dosages
D011882 Radiotherapy, High-Energy Radiotherapy using high-energy (megavolt or higher) ionizing radiation. Types of radiation include gamma rays, produced by a radioisotope within a teletherapy unit; x-rays, electrons, protons, alpha particles (helium ions) and heavy charged ions, produced by particle acceleration; and neutrons and pi-mesons (pions), produced as secondary particles following bombardment of a target with a primary particle. Megavolt Radiotherapy,High-Energy Radiotherapy,Radiotherapy, Megavolt,High Energy Radiotherapy,Radiotherapy, High Energy
D004307 Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation The relationship between the dose of administered radiation and the response of the organism or tissue to the radiation. Dose Response Relationship, Radiation,Dose-Response Relationships, Radiation,Radiation Dose-Response Relationship,Radiation Dose-Response Relationships,Relationship, Radiation Dose-Response,Relationships, Radiation Dose-Response
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D061766 Proton Therapy The use of an external beam of PROTONS as radiotherapy. Proton Beam Radiation Therapy,Proton Beam Therapy,Proton Beam Therapies,Proton Therapies,Therapies, Proton,Therapies, Proton Beam,Therapy, Proton,Therapy, Proton Beam
D019047 Phantoms, Imaging Devices or objects in various imaging techniques used to visualize or enhance visualization by simulating conditions encountered in the procedure. Phantoms are used very often in procedures employing or measuring x-irradiation or radioactive material to evaluate performance. Phantoms often have properties similar to human tissue. Water demonstrates absorbing properties similar to normal tissue, hence water-filled phantoms are used to map radiation levels. Phantoms are used also as teaching aids to simulate real conditions with x-ray or ultrasonic machines. (From Iturralde, Dictionary and Handbook of Nuclear Medicine and Clinical Imaging, 1990) Phantoms, Radiographic,Phantoms, Radiologic,Radiographic Phantoms,Radiologic Phantoms,Phantom, Radiographic,Phantom, Radiologic,Radiographic Phantom,Radiologic Phantom,Imaging Phantom,Imaging Phantoms,Phantom, Imaging

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