Ponente
Descripción
Proton therapy requires precise knowledge of the patient anatomy to ensure an accurate dose delivery [1]. X-ray computed tomography (CT) images are used nowadays to calculate the relative stopping power (RSP) needed for proton therapy treatment planning [2]. Recent studies indicate that tomographic imaging using protons has the potential to provide a more accurate and direct measurement of RSP with a significantly lower radiation dose than X-rays [3]. A proton CT (pCT) scanner prototype is under development at the IEM-CSIC. It comprises a tracking system of two double-sided silicon strip detectors and the CEPA4 detector as the residual energy detector. This pCT scanner prototype was tested at the Cyclotron Centre Bronowice (CCB) facility in Krakow, Poland, during three experimental campaigns in 2021 and 2022. Several samples were used to test the spatial resolution and RSP determination capabilities of the scanner in radiography and tomography imaging modes. Volumetric phantoms composed of matrices made of PMMA with inserts of air, ethanol, water, Delrin, Teflon, and aluminum were imaged. The radiographs displayed great fidelity to the shapes of the studied samples. The spatial resolution of this proton imaging scanner prototype is better than 2 mm and the MTF-10%=0.3 line pairs per mm in radiography mode [4]. The RSP resolution of the scanner has also been studied and the resulting RSP values are in good agreement with previously reported data [5]. We are currently engaged in the data analysis of new samples for the study of radiographs and tomography scans using proton beams with energies up to 200 MeV.
At this conference, we will present preliminary findings, including the imaging capabilities of our prototype, showcasing its potential applications for the future of medical imaging detectors.
References
[1] C. Sarosiek et al., Med. Phys. 48, 2271 (2021).
[2] P. Wohlfahrt and C. Richter, Br. J. Radiol. 93, 20190590 (2020).
[3] R. P. Johnson Rep. Prog. Phys. 81, 016701 (2018).
[4] J. A. Briz et al., IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci. 69, 696 (2022).
[5] E. Nácher et al., EPJ Plus 139, 404 (2024).
