The spatial distribution of positron-emitting nuclei generated by relativistic light ion beams in organic matter

The FLUKA code: New developments and application to 1GeV/n iron beams

“…It is often regarded as an undesirable drawback which deteriorates the selective energy deposition due to the more frequent electromagnetic energy losses. However, the production of a minor amount of positron emitting fragments (from target, and, for ions with Z P 5, also from projectile) offers the possibility to monitor in situ and non-invasively the precision of the treatment by means of positron-emission-tomography (PET) (Enghardt et al, 1992). The induced b + -activity distribution is correlated but not proportional to the applied dose.…”

The application of PET to quality assurance of heavy-ion tumor therapy

“…It is immediately evident that the correlation between the spatial distribution of dose and [3+-activity is not trivial. The reason is the kinematics of the nuclear fragmentation reactions which lead to the production of positron emitters during heavy-ion irradiations [1]. Therefore, the prediction of the [3*-activity distribution from the treatment plan in combination with the time dependence of beam energy, intensity and focus during the irradiation is unavoidable.…”

“…Nevertheless, the first attemps to utilize PET for treatment plan verification prior to heavy ion therapy were made at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory with low-intensity [3+-radioactive ion beams in the 1980s [7] and a radioactive therapy beam is planned for the Japanese HIMAC-facility at Chiba [5]. (ii) As a byproduct of each heavy-ion therapy [3+-radioactive nuclei are formed via fragmentation reactions between the incident particles and the atomic nuclei of the tissue [1 ]. The spatial distribution of these positron emitters within the target volume can be related to the dose distribution [8], which offers the possibility of applying PET-techniques to quality assurance of heavy-ion therapy.…”

“…The main components are the horizontal beam tube with monitor chambers and position sensitive detectors, the PET -camera which will allow a dose verification during irradiation, the patient couch, and the X-ray verification system consisting of X-ray-tubes and cassette holders for the three room coordinates. In parallel to these developments an appropriate quality management has been developed [1].…”

Heavy-Ion Therapy at GSI

“…quanta of β+-radioactive ions using positron emission tomography (PET) one can there fore correlate the range distribution with the primary beam in order to localize on-line the beam inside the patient [2].…”