Techniques for image based in-vivo dosimetry: from particle therapy PET to in-beam prompt gamma imaging


Techniques for image based in-vivo dosimetry: from particle therapy PET to in-beam prompt gamma imaging

Fiedler, F.; Dersch, U.; Golnik, C.; Helmbrecht, S.; Kormoll, T.; Kunath, D.; Laube, K.; Müller, A.; Priegnitz, M.; Rohling, H.; Schöne, S.; Enghardt, W.

Radiation therapy is an important treatment modality in cancer therapy. New radiation species, like protons and light ions have the potential to increase tumor conformality of irradiation. Because of the way these particles deposit energy on their path through tissue they allow for an increased dose deposition in the tumor volume and reduce the damage of the surrounding normal tissue.
Such high precision radiotherapy treatment requires efficient quality assurance techniques. Small changes in the irradiated volume will lead to a mismatch of the deposited dose maximum and the tumor. This causes missing dose in the tumor volume and potential damage to healthy tissue. Therefore, a dose monitoring system is highly desirable. Between 1997 and 2008, the in-beam Positron Emission Tomography (PET) method was used at the GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, Darmstadt, Germany, for monitoring the dose delivered by 12C beams (cf. figure 1). The spatial distribution of positron emitters generated via nuclear interactions between projectile ions and atomic nuclei of the tissue is measured during and shortly after the irradiation. Due to different physical processes for dose deposition and activity production a simulation of the expected activity is required. By means of a comparison between measured and simulated activity distribution conclusions on the accuracy of the dose localization can be drawn. Since ion therapy is normally applied during a fractionated treatment over more than 15 days, detected deviations can be corrected for in the following fractions. Different modalities of PET, i.e. measuring during the irradiation versus taking data after the treatment have been compared. Since the positive clinical impact of the method has been shown, an in-room PET/CT will be installed for the same purpose at the Dresden Proton Therapy facility. Recent investigation and limits of the PET method used for in vivo dose monitoring at ion beams will be presented and discussed.

Due to inherent physical restrictions of this method, a direct quantification of the delivered dose is not feasible. Therefore, another approach based on dose monitoring by detection of prompt gamma rays is currently under investigation. In contrast to PET this method relies on the detection of prompt gamma rays emitted almost instantaneously during the therapeutic irradiation. These gammas are expected to possess a wide energy range between 0 and 10 MeV. To measure these photons a Compton camera design was evaluated with respect to the special requirements and conditions that arise from this application (cf. figure 1). Different concepts were compared by means of simulation. The complete chain from simulation based on the treatment plan to the iterative reconstruction of the data was developed and is now under optimization. First measurements have been successfully performed with radioactive sources and ion beams. Results of the first test of this prototype at a proton beam will be shown.

Keywords: in vivo dosimetry; ion beam therapy

  • Lecture (Conference)
    International Conference on Translational Research in Radio-Oncology and Physics for Health in Europe ICTR-PHE, 27.02.-02.03.2012, Geneva, Switzerland
  • Open Access Logo Abstract in refereed journal
    Radiotherapy and Oncology 102(2012), S40-S41

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Publ.-Id: 16142