Treatment verification by Prompt Gamma-Ray Timing on an anthropomorphic head phantom under pre-clinical conditions

• Published in: 2023 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium, Medical Imaging Conference and International Symposium on Room-Temperature Semiconductor Detectors (NSS MIC RTSD) p. 1
• Main Authors: Kogler, T. J., Kieslich, A. M., Makarevich, K., Roemer, K. E., Turko, J. A. B., Wagner, A., Schellhammer, S. M.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 04.11.2023
• Subjects: Gamma-rays; Head; Microwave integrated circuits; Particle beams; Phantoms; Semiconductor detectors; Timing
• ISSN: 2577-0829
• DOI: 10.1109/NSSMICRTSD49126.2023.10338393

Range verification is essential to develop the full potential of proton therapy. The prompt gamma-ray timing method [1]-[2] is a promising candidate for its clinical realization, since it is a light-weight system with small footprint, which can be easily integrated into existing treatment facilities.To verify the clinical applicability of this system, range deviations were introduced on a realistic head phantom using plastic plates of up to 7 mm thickness. The produced prompt gamma radiation was detected simultaneously by eight CeBr\textsubscript{3} detectors. Several improvements to the detector hardware and setup made it possible to reliably detect the introduced range deviations.Thus, this study demonstrates for the first time that the prompt gamma-ray timing system can resolve range deviations of a few millimeters at clinically realistic pencil beam spot intensities, making it a strong option for on-line treatment verification.