Proton therapy treatment monitoring with in-beam PET: Investigating space and time activity distributions

In this study the possibility of retrieving composition information in proton therapy with a planar in-beam PET scanner is investigated. The analysis focuses both on spatial activity distributions and time dependence of the recorded signal. The experimental data taking was performed at the Trento Proton Therapy Center (IT) by irradiating three different phantoms. We show that different phantom compositions reflect into different activity profile shapes. We demonstrate that the analysis of the event rate can provide significant information on the phantom elemental composition, suggesting that elemental analysis could be used along with activity profile analysis to achieve a more accurate treatment monitoring

A graphic user interface in Matlab for the heat load assessment in superconducting solenoids.

This Report contains a short overview of the solenoid magnet and a GUI developed to use for the calculation of the static heat load in superconducting solenoid magnet

Positron Emission Tomography Applied in Proton Therapy for Treatment Delivery Verification

The aim of this thesis is to investigate the use of a dedicated system for proton therapy treatments monitoring based on the PET technique. It focuses on the use of data acquired shortly after irradiations, which is currently not yet fully explored. An ad hoc detector called DoPET was built and used for several experiments. This stationary dual-head detector, along with an on-purpose optimised reconstruction software, is capable of reconstructing the β+ activated volume, acquiring data also during treatment for cyclotron based facilities. Currently, this system is one of the few PET systems worldwide for proton therapy monitoring that can be easily transported: it acquired data in three different particle therapy centres in Italy and in the proton therapy centre of Krakow, Poland. The FLUKA MC code was used for the validation and interpretation of our experimental data. FLUKA was chosen as a simulation tool because it has been intensively benchmarked against depth-dose data and lateral-dose profiles from various accelerators used for research and clinical ion-beam therapy. In this thesis, we present data acquired in two proton therapy centres with the aim of measuring the system monitoring capabilities in various conditions. The thesis is organized as follows: Chapter 1 provides a review of the physical rationale of particle therapy. In chapter 2, the DoPET system and its calibration process are described, along with the proton therapy centres where we have acquired data. Furthermore, we describe two methods of β+ activity reconstruction and the FLUKA MC code. Chapter 3 contains the experimental data analysis and their validation with FLUKA simulations, demonstrating that DoPET along with FLUKA can be used as a monitoring system for proton therapy. The last part of the chapter deals with the potential use of DoPET for beam characterisation. Finally, appendix A describes particle therapy technology and appendix B introduces a model for β + signal estimation

Are Further Cross Section Measurements Necessary for Space Radiation Protection or Ion Therapy Applications? Helium Projectiles

The helium (⁴He) component of the primary particles in the galactic cosmic ray spectrum makes significant contributions to the total astronaut radiation exposure. ⁴He ions are also desirable for direct applications in ion therapy. They contribute smaller projectile fragmentation than carbon (¹²C) ions and smaller lateral beam spreading than protons. Space radiation protection and ion therapy applications need reliable nuclear reaction models and transport codes for energetic particles in matter. Neutrons and light ions (¹H, ²H, ³H, ³He, and ⁴He) are the most important secondary particles produced in space radiation and ion therapy nuclear reactions; these particles penetrate deeply and make large contributions to dose equivalent. Since neutrons and light ions may scatter at large angles, double differential cross sections are required by transport codes that propagate radiation fields through radiation shielding and human tissue. This work will review the importance of ⁴He projectiles to space radiation and ion therapy, and outline the present status of neutron and light ion production cross section measurements and modeling, with recommendations for future needs

Are Further Cross Section Measurements Necessary for Space Radiation Protection or Ion Therapy Applications? Helium Projectiles

The helium ((Formula presented.) He) component of the primary particles in the galactic cosmic ray spectrum makes significant contributions to the total astronaut radiation exposure. (Formula presented.) He ions are also desirable for direct applications in ion therapy. They contribute smaller projectile fragmentation than carbon ((Formula presented.) C) ions and smaller lateral beam spreading than protons. Space radiation protection and ion therapy applications need reliable nuclear reaction models and transport codes for energetic particles in matter. Neutrons and light ions ((Formula presented.) H, (Formula presented.) H, (Formula presented.) H, (Formula presented.) He, and (Formula presented.) He) are the most important secondary particles produced in space radiation and ion therapy nuclear reactions; these particles penetrate deeply and make large contributions to dose equivalent. Since neutrons and light ions may scatter at large angles, double differential cross sections are required by transport codes that propagate radiation fields through radiation shielding and human tissue. This work will review the importance of (Formula presented.) He projectiles to space radiation and ion therapy, and outline the present status of neutron and light ion production cross section measurements and modeling, with recommendations for future needs