The future role of particle beams in the treatment of pediatric tumours, by a medical physics point of view

Proton therapy, as compared to standard photon radiotherapy, presents the advantage of sparing non-target tissue. This is especially important for treatments of paediatric patients, where the reduction of integral dose and dose to organs at risk can significantly improve children ’s quality of life, while reducing the risk for late toxicity, not limited but including secondary malignancies.Cranio-spinal irradiation with protons represents a good example of reduced integral dose, as the dose to all anatomical structures anterior to the spinal cord (such as kidneys, heart, l iver) are reduced when compared to photon treatments.
Source: Physica Medica: European Journal of Medical Physics - Category: Journals (General) Authors: Source Type: research