Study of range verification using PET imaging induced in proton therapy based on Monte Carlo simulation

• Main Authors: Cheng Yi Ke, 柯承邑
• Other Authors: I. T. Hsiao
• Format: Others
• Published: 2015
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/26344947838465851188

碩士 === 長庚大學 === 醫學影像暨放射科學系 === 103 === The advantages of proton therapy, in contrast to conventional radiotherapy from photons and electrons, are based on the characteristic proton Bragg peak. However, the advantages are hampered by uncertainties in the proton range caused by many factors. As a quality assurance (QC) process, verification on correctness of the dose delivery and irradiation field position is necessary after proton therapy. Position emission tomography (PET) as a tool for verifying dose distribution in proton therapy after treatment has became one of the research interests among associated research groups recently. The aim of this study is to study the range difference between proton and PET activity based on Monte Carlo simulation. The results indicated that the proton dose range is dependent on PET acquisition time, and also on irradiated materials. The acquired 15O signal leads to least range difference between PET activity and proton dose range, and thus PET activity acquired from earlier scanning time frame (2-5min) is with both high-counting statistics and less biological washout. The study also showed that the three de-convolution methods are able to provide results with acceptable range errors for proton range verification.