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Medical Physics / Volume 38 / Issue 12 / RADIATION THERAPY PHYSICS

Med. Phys. 38, 6585 (2011); http://dx.doi.org/10.1118/1.3662911 (7 pages)

Dose and dose averaged LET comparison of 1H, 4He, 6Li, 8Be, 10B, 12C, 14N, and 16O ion beams forming a spread-out Bragg peak

I. Kantemiris

Nuclear and Particle Physics Section, Physics Department, University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, Ilissia, 157 71 Athens, Greece and Greek Atomic Energy Commission, Patriarxou Grigoriou Neapoleos, Agia Paraskevi, 15310 Athens, Greece

P. Karaiskos and P. Papagiannis

Medical Physics Laboratory, Medical School, University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias, 115 27 Athens, Greece

A. Angelopoulos

Nuclear and Particle Physics Section, Physics Department, University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, Ilissia, 157 71 Athens, Greece

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(Received 21 June 2011; accepted 1 November 2011; revised 21 September 2011; published online 22 November 2011)

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Purpose: Modern clinical accelerators are capable of producing ion beams from protons up to neon. This work compares the depth dose distribution and corresponding dose averaged linear energy transfer (LET) distribution, which is related to the biological effectiveness, for different ion beams (1H, 4He, 6Li, 8Be, 10B, 12C, 14N, and 16O) using multi-energetic spectra in order to configure spread-out Bragg peaks (SOBP).
Methods: Monte Carlo simulations were performed in order to configure a 5 cm SOBP at 8 cm depth in water for all the different ion beams. Physical dose and dose averaged LET distributions as a function of depth were then calculated and compared. The superposition of dose distribution of all ions is also presented for a two opposing fields configuration. Additional simulations were performed for 12C beams to investigate the dependence of dose and dose averaged LET distributions on target depth and size, as well as beam configuration. These included simulations for a 3 cm SOBP at 7, 10, and 13 cm depth in water, a 6 cm SOBP at 7 depth in water, and two opposing fields of 6 cm SOBP.
Results: Alpha particles and protons present superior physical depth dose distributions relative to the rest of the beams studied. Dose averaged LET distributions results suggest higher biological effectiveness in the target volume for carbon, nitrogen and oxygen ions. This is coupled, however, with relatively high LET values—especially for the last two ion species—outside the SOBP where healthy tissue would be located. Dose averaged LET distributions for 8Be and 10B beams show that they could be attractive alternatives to 12C for the treatment of small, not deeply seated lesions. The potential therapeutic effect of different ion beams studied in this work depends on target volume and position, as well as the number of beams used.
Conclusions: The optimization of beam modality for specific tumor cites remains an open question that warrants further investigation and clinically relevant results.

© 2011 American Association of Physicists in Medicine

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work was supported in part by the Special Account for Research Grants of the University of Athens (U.O.A./S.A.R.G.).

Article Outline

  1. INTRODUCTION
  2. MATERIALS AND METHODS
    1. Monte Carlo simulations
    2. Dose and dose averaged LET calculations
  3. RESULTS
    1. Physical dose
    2. Dose averaged LET, LET D,inf
  4. DISCUSSION
  5. CONCLUSIONS
Digital Object Identifier
http://dx.doi.org/10.1118/1.3662911

KEYWORDS and PACS

Keywords

dosimetry, Monte Carlo methods, radiation therapy, radioactive ion beams, light ion therapy, particle therapy, radiotherapy, LET, SOBP, Monte Carlo

PACS

  • 87.53.Bn

    Dosimetry/exposure assessment

  • 87.53.Jw

    Therapeutic applications, including brachytherapy

PUBLICATION DATA

ISSN

0094-2405 (print)  

Publisher

$abstract.society.value is a Member of CrossRef American Association of Physicists in Medicine

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