A parameter study of pencil beam proton dose distributions for the treatment of ocular melanoma utilizing spot scanning

• Published in: Radiological physics and technology Vol. 3; no. 1; pp. 16 - 22
• Main Authors: Sutherland, Kenneth, Miyajima, Satoshi, Date, Hiroyuki, Shirato, Hiroki, Ishikawa, Masayori, Murakami, Masao, Yamagiwa, Mitsuru, Bolton, Paul, Tajima, Toshiki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Springer Japan 01.01.2010
• Subjects: Eye Neoplasms - pathology; Eye Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Humans; Imaging; Lasers; Medical and Radiation Physics; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Melanoma - pathology; Melanoma - radiotherapy; Monte Carlo Method; Nuclear Medicine; Organs at Risk - radiation effects; Protons - therapeutic use; Radiation Dosage; Radiology; Radiotherapy; Radiotherapy Dosage; Tumor Burden; Proton therapy; Laser acceleration; Ocular melanoma; Monte Carlo simulation
• ISSN: 1865-0333; 1865-0341
• DOI: 10.1007/s12194-009-0071-4

The results of Monte Carlo calculated dose distributions of proton treatment of ocular melanoma are presented. An efficient spot scanning method utilizing active energy modulation, which also minimizes the number of target spots was developed. We simulated various parameter values for the particle energy spread and the pencil beam diameter in order to determine values suitable for medical treatment. We found that a 2.5-mm-diameter proton beam with a 5% Gaussian energy spread was suitable for treatment of ocular melanoma while preserving vision for the typical case that we simulated. The energy spectra and the required proton current were also calculated and are reported. The results are intended to serve as a guideline for a new class of low-cost, compact accelerators.