Abstract
Mono-energetic carbon ion scanning beams of 195.2 MeV/u at the Italian National Centre for Oncological Hadrontherapy (CNAO) have been used to study the microdosimetric features of an “active” carbon ion beam used in hadrontherapy. A 30x30 mm2 area has been scanned by a 6 mm beam with scanning steps of 2 mm. A mini TEPC of 0.57 mm3 has been used to perform measurements in a water phantom at different depths on the beam axis. The detector small size allowed for measuring, with good spatial resolution, also inside the relatively small Bragg peak region and inside the distal edge, where the radiation quality varies quickly. In spite of the high event rate (up to ~ 105 s-1 ), no pile-up effects were observed. Results showed that the frequency-mean lineal energy scaled well with the absorbed dose. Moreover, the dose-mean lineal energy itself seemed to be a good descriptor of the radiation quality.
Highlights
IntroductionThe ion beam radiotherapy is a technique that uses fast light ions (protons and carbon ions) to treat solid tumours
The ion beam radiotherapy is a technique that uses fast light ions to treat solid tumours
As far as the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) and oxygen enhancement ratio (OER) can be assessed from the radiation field quality, it should be known with high spatial resolution in order to optimise the therapeutic plan and its success
Summary
The ion beam radiotherapy is a technique that uses fast light ions (protons and carbon ions) to treat solid tumours. The ion finite range allows maximizing the tumour dose, while sparing the dose to the surrounding healthy tissues Such a radiation therapy has therapeutic indications for solid tumours that are located close to critical healthy tissues. Carbon ions have high relative biological effectiveness (RBE) and low oxygen enhancement ratio (OER) [2, 3]. These features make carbon ions suitable to treat tumours, which are low-LET radiation resistant. Both the RBE the OER values change with the radiation quality, namely with the ion charge and velocity.
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