Impact of spot size variations on dose in scanned proton beam therapy

In Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy (IMPT), dose is delivered to the patient by combining the dose from numerous small proton beams (spots) with a certain lateral size, energy, position, and number of protons. To ensure that the planned and delivered dose correspond, the spot characteristics must be stable. The lateral size of the spots is a parameter for which it is challenging to guarantee perfect stability over time [1 –5]. Beam size changes could occur as a result of variations in the proton accelerator (e.g.
Source: Physica Medica: European Journal of Medical Physics - Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: Original paper Source Type: research