Requirements for a Compton camera for in vivo range verification of proton therapy

To ensure the optimal outcome of proton therapy, in vivo range verification is highly desired. Prompt γ-ray imaging (PGI) is a possible approach for in vivo range monitoring. For PGI, dedicated detection systems, e.g. Compton cameras, are currently under investigation. The presented paper deals with...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physics in medicine & biology 2017-04, Vol.62 (7), p.2795-2811
Main Authors: Rohling, H, Priegnitz, M, Schoene, S, Schumann, A, Enghardt, W, Hueso-González, F, Pausch, G, Fiedler, F
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Algorithms
Compton camera
Computer Simulation
end-to-end test
Gamma Rays
Geant4
Head and Neck Neoplasms - radiotherapy
Humans
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted - methods
Monte Carlo Method
Monte Carlo simulation
prompt
proton therapy
Proton Therapy - methods
Radiotherapy Dosage
Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted - methods
Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated - methods
range verification
ray imaging
Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods
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Summary:To ensure the optimal outcome of proton therapy, in vivo range verification is highly desired. Prompt γ-ray imaging (PGI) is a possible approach for in vivo range monitoring. For PGI, dedicated detection systems, e.g. Compton cameras, are currently under investigation. The presented paper deals with substantial requirements regarding hardware and software that a Compton camera used in clinical routine has to meet. By means of GEANT4 simulations, we investigate the load on the detectors and the percentage of background expected in a realistic irradiation and we simulate γ-ray detections subsequently used as input data for the reconstruction. By reconstructing events from simulated sources of well-defined geometry, we show that large-area detectors are favourable. We investigate reconstruction results in dependence of the number of events. Finally, an end-to-end test for a realistic patient scenario is presented: starting with a treatment plan, the γ-ray emissions are calculated, the detector response is modelled, and the image reconstruction is performed. By this, the complexity of the system is shown, and requirements and limitations regarding precision and costs are determined.
ISSN:0031-9155
1361-6560
DOI:10.1088/1361-6560/aa6068