On the role of ion-based imaging methods in modern ion beam therapy

Journal Article · Fri Nov 07 00:00:00 EST 2014 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4901379· OSTI ID:22390512

Magallanes, L., E-mail: [e-mail]; Rinaldi, I., E-mail: [e-mail] ^[1]; Brons, S., E-mail: [e-mail] ^[2]; Marcelos, T., E-mail: [e-mail]; Parodi, K., E-mail: [e-mail] ^[3]; Takechi, M., E-mail: [e-mail] ^[4]; Voss, B., E-mail: [e-mail] ^[5]; Jäkel, O., E-mail: [e-mail] ^[6]; Heidelberg Ion Therapy Center. Im Neuenheimer Feld 450 69120 Heidelberg ^[7]; German Cancer Research Center, Im N ^[7]

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1. Heidelberg University Clinic (Dep. Radiation Therapy and Radiation Oncology). Im Neuenheimer Feld 400 69120 Heidelberg, Germany and Ludwig Maximilians University Munich. Am Coulombwall 1, D-85748, Garching (Germany)
2. Heidelberg Ion Therapy Center. Im Neuenheimer Feld 450 69120 Heidelberg (Germany)
3. Ludwig Maximilians University Munich. Am Coulombwall 1, D-85748, Garching (Germany)
4. GSI Heimholtz Center for Heavy Ion Research. Planckstraße 1, 64291, Darmstadt (Germany)
5. GSI Heimholte Center for Heavy Ion Research. Planckstraße 1, 64291, Darmstadt (Germany)
6. Heidelberg University Clinic (Dep. Radiation Therapy and Radiation Oncology). Im Neuenheimer Feld 400 69120 Heidelberg (Germany)
7. (Germany)

External beam radiotherapy techniques have the common aim to maximize the radiation dose to the target while sparing the surrounding healthy tissues. The inverted and finite depth-dose profile of ion beams (Bragg peak) allows for precise dose delivery and conformai dose distribution. Furthermore, increased radiobiological effectiveness of ions enhances the capability to battle radioresistant tumors. Ion beam therapy requires a precise determination of the ion range, which is particularly sensitive to range uncertainties. Therefore, novel imaging techniques are currently investigated as a tool to improve the quality of ion beam treatments. Approaches already clinically available or under development are based on the detection of secondary particles emitted as a result of nuclear reactions (e.g., positron-annihilation or prompt gammas, charged particles) or transmitted high energy primary ion beams. Transmission imaging techniques make use of the beams exiting the patient, which have higher initial energy and lower fluence than the therapeutic ones. At the Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Center, actively scanned energetic proton and carbon ion beams provide an ideal environment for the investigation of ion-based radiography and tomography. This contribution presents the rationale of ion beam therapy, focusing on the role of ion-based transmission imaging methods towards the reduction of range uncertainties and potential improvement of treatment planning.

• OSTI ID: 22390512
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1626, Issue 1; Conference: 13. Mexican Symposium on Medical Physics, Leon, Guanajuato (Mexico), 15-16 Mar 2014; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
BRAGG CURVE
CARBON IONS
DELIVERY
DEPTH DOSE DISTRIBUTIONS
ION BEAMS
PATIENTS
POSITRONS
PROTONS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIOTHERAPY
TOMOGRAPHY