Effects of Interfractional Changes on Range in Heavy Charged Particle Radiotherapy of Lung Cancer

Abstract

Intrafractional and interfractional anatomical changes impact the accuracy of delivered dose in radiotherapy, particularly in charged particle radiotherapy. Intrafractional sources of anatomical change arise from cardiac and respiratory motion. Interfractional anatomical changes are a result of tumor size and shape variations, tissue density changes and tissue thickness variations. We have performed a quantitative analysis of range variations due to interfractional anatomical changes in charged particle therapy over the treatment course.