From protons to Picasso: recreating famous paintings using proton beams as a “Paintbrush”

Abstract

In pencil-beam-scanning proton therapy, the dose is painted spot-by-spot, layer-by-layer, allowing for significantly more control compared to conventional radiation. This work intends to showcase the impressive ability of intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) to shape complex dose distributions by recreating some of history's most renowned artworks as treatment plans. Five (5) well-recognized paintings were recreated in our clinical treatment planning system using a water phantom as a “canvas” and radiation dose as “paint.” For each “painting,” colors were assigned to various isodose levels, and the treatment plans were inversely optimized to achieve the desired tones. Using the above methods, we were able to recreate The Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh, Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer, and The Scream by Edvard Munch, among others. The results of this work have potential applications in patient education, medical education, and medical physics education by providing a unique and interesting platform for learning.