Charged particles and neutron trackers: Applications to particle therapy

Abstract

The use of C, He and O as beam particles in Particle Therapy (PT) treatments is getting more and more widespread as a consequence of the enhanced relative biological effectiveness and oxygen enhancement ratio of such projectiles with respect to protons. The advantages in the tumor control probability, related to the improved efficacy of ions, are calling for an online monitor of the dose release spatial distribution. Such technology is currently missing in PT treatments clinical routine. In this contribution the status of Z>1 ions PT treatments monitoring, exploiting the detection of either charged secondary particles or neutrons, is reviewed. While charged fragments can be used to provide an online feedback to the beam control system, by correlating their emission profile with the position of the Bragg peak, neutrons have to be monitored to improve the experimental description of the secondary radiation component that significantly contributes to an undesired and not negligible dose deposition far away from the tumor region, enhancing the risk of secondary malignancies development after the treatment. Two tracker detectors, employing scintillating fibers, are presented: the Dose Profiler designed for charged secondary fragments measurements and the MONDO tracker dedicated to the characterisation of the secondary fast and ultrafast neutron component, within the MONDO (MOnitor for Neutron Dose in hadrOntherapy) project.