Particle therapy is considered one of the most advanced radiotherapy methods in oncology. Thanks to the favourable depth dose deposition for charged particles (Bragg peak) and the enhanced radiobiological effectiveness for heavier ions, particle therapy is highly effective in reducing toxicity, lowering secondary malignancy risk and increasing tumor local control.
In order to fully exploit its potential, however, the particle range inside the patient must be thoroughly monitored, so as to early identify possible major inter-fraction changes in the patient morphology. Range verification systems detect secondary radiation, induced by the treatment and exiting the patient body, that is indirectly related to the particle range. In particular, due to beam-tissue interactions, some positron emitters are generated as consequence of nuclear fragmentation, prompt photons are emitted by nuclear de-excitation and, in the case of carbon ions, secondary protons are produced.
In the last decade, range verification systems able to acquire data in-vivo during the irradiation time (in-beam) and give a useful feedback about the treatment quality have been developed. In this seminar, current approaches to in-vivo range verification will be discussed by considering their performance as research device and, when possible, in a clinical environment. The impact of an in-vivo range verification system on emerging approaches in particle therapy will be outlined.
Link zoom:
https://infn-it.zoom.us/j/85933208979?pwd=SjhuekI1dDNkUUYrbjFVazRTdjRBQT09
ID riunione: 859 3320 8979
Passcode: 971750
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