Fundamental limits to stereotactic proton therapy

Author

Peggs, Stephen G.

Author_Institution

Brookhaven Nat. Lab., Upton, NY, USA

Volume

51

Issue

3

fYear

2004

fDate

6/1/2004 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

677

Lastpage

681

Abstract

Proton therapy techniques are developing from passive scattering toward 3-D multifield scanning modalities, increasing the demands for speed and for dose distributions with sharp edges. Fundamental physics (energy straggling and multiple Coulomb scattering) ultimately limit treatment performance parameters, even for an ideal beam delivery system. This paper calculates how few independent beam delivery control points are needed in a tumor in order to perform the sharpest possible stereotactic surgery, with 1% integrated dose flatness.

Keywords

beam handling techniques; dosimetry; proton effects; radiation therapy; tumours; 3D multifield scanning modalities; accelerator; dose distributions; energy straggling; fundamental limits; ideal beam delivery system; independent beam delivery control points; integrated dose flatness; multiple Coulomb scattering; passive scattering; sharp edges; sharpest possible stereotactic surgery; speed distributions; stereotactic proton therapy; treatment planning; tumor; Cyclotrons; Geometry; Medical treatment; Neoplasms; Particle beams; Physics; Protons; Scattering; Surgery; Synchrotrons; Accelerator; proton therapy; treatment planning;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Nuclear Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9499

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TNS.2004.829734

Filename

1310582