Program Information
3D Range-Modulator for Scanned Particle Therapy: Development, Monte Carlo Simulations and Measurements
Y Simeonov1*, P Penchev1 , T Printz Ringbaek1 , S Brons2 , U Weber3 , K Zink1,4 , (1) University of Applied Sciences, Institute of Medical Physics and Radiation Protection, Giessen, Germany, (2) Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Center (HIT), Heidelberg, Germany, (3) GSI Helmholtzzentrum fuer Schwerionenforschung GmbH, Darmstadt, Germany, (4) University Hospital Giessen-Marburg, Marburg, Germany
Presentations
SU-F-T-184 (Sunday, July 31, 2016) 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM Room: Exhibit Hall
Purpose:
Active raster scanning in particle therapy results in highly conformal dose distributions. Treatment time, however, is relatively high due to the large number of different iso-energy layers used. By using only one energy and the so called 3D range-modulator irradiation times of a few seconds only can be achieved, thus making delivery of homogeneous dose to moving targets (e.g. lung cancer) more reliable.
Methods:
A 3D range-modulator consisting of many pins with base area of 2.25 mm2 and different lengths was developed and manufactured with rapid prototyping technique. The form of the 3D range-modulator was optimised for a spherical target volume with 5 cm diameter placed at 25 cm in a water phantom.
Monte Carlo simulations using the FLUKA package were carried out to evaluate the modulating effect of the 3D range-modulator and simulate the resulting dose distribution. The fine and complicated contour form of the 3D range-modulator was taken into account by a specially programmed user routine. Additionally FLUKA was extended with the capability of intensity modulated scanning.
To verify the simulation results dose measurements were carried out at the Heidelberg Ion Therapy Center (HIT) with a 400.41 MeV 12C beam.
Results:
The high resolution measurements show that the 3D range-modulator is capable of producing homogeneous 3D conformal dose distributions, simultaneously reducing significantly irradiation time. Measured dose is in very good agreement with the previously conducted FLUKA simulations, where slight differences were traced back to minor manufacturing deviations from the perfect optimised form.
Conclusion:
Combined with the advantages of very short treatment time the 3D range-modulator could be an alternative to treat small to medium sized tumours (e.g. lung metastasis) with the same conformity as full raster-scanning treatment. Further simulations and measurements of more complex cases will be conducted to investigate the full potential of the 3D range-modulator.
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