24–28 Oct 2022
University of Santiago de Compostela
Europe/Madrid timezone

New nuclear data for online and offline PET monitoring in proton therapy

26 Oct 2022, 18:25
20m
Classroom 3, Facultad de Ciencias de la Comunicación (University of Santiago de Compostela)

Classroom 3, Facultad de Ciencias de la Comunicación

University of Santiago de Compostela

Campus Norte, Av. de Castelao, s/n, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Oral Contribution P8 Nuclear Physics Applications P8 Nuclear Physics Applications

Speaker

Teresa Rodríguez González (Universidad de Sevilla (ES))

Description

In proton therapy, Positron Emission Tomography (PET) range verification, which is based on the detection of the short-lived (online monitoring) or the long-lived (offline monitoring) $\beta^{+}$ emitters produced in the body of the patient, has been proved to be a well-suited technique to monitor the beam range [1]. This technique requires the comparison of the observed activity distribution with a simulated one using a Monte Carlo code. As the reliability of the simulated activity distribution depends on the accuracy of the underlying cross sections for producing the $\beta^{+}$ emitters of interest [2][3][4], several studies confirm the need for more and better measurements and evaluations [4][5}[6]. Indeed, new data related to the production of the short-lived nuclides involved in real-time verification [7][8][9] are especially needed, as there are no data available yet in the energy range of interest, up to 200 MeV.

The objective of this work is to measure the production cross sections of the mentioned long-lived ($^{11}$C with t$_{1/2}$ = 20.4 min, $^{13}$N with t$_{1/2}$ = 9.97 min and $^{15}$O with t$_{1/2}$ = 122 s) and short-lived ($^{12}$N with t$_{1/2}$ = 11 ms, $^{29}$P with t$_{1/2}$ = 4.14 s and $^{38mK}$ with t$_{1/2}$ = 924 ms) $\beta^{+}$ emitters. In order to measure the long-lived $\beta^{+}$ emitters, the multifoil activation technique combined with dynamic PET scanner imaging performed outside the irradiation room is applied. The technique has been first validated at the 18 MeV cyclotron of CNA in Spain [10], and then applied up to a nominal proton beam energy of 200 MeV at the WPE and HIT clinical facilities in Germany [11]. In order to measure the short-lived isotopes, single-foil irradiations with online monitoring using LaBr$_{3}$ detectors have been performed at HIT. The results from both experimental campaigns will be presented and the relevance of the new data for PET range verification will be discussed.

Primary author

Teresa Rodríguez González (Universidad de Sevilla (ES))

Co-authors

Carlos Guerrero Sanchez (Universidad de Sevilla (ES)) Carmen JIMENEZ RAMOS Christian Baumer (West German Proton Therapy Centre Essen) Dr Christian Schömers Claus Maximiliam Bäcker (West German Proton Therapy Centre Essen) Jose Manuel Quesada Molina (Universidad de Sevilla (ES)) Julia Bauer (Heidelberg ion beam therapy center) Maria Angeles Millan Callado (Universidad de Sevilla (ES)) Stephan Brons (Department of Radiation Oncology) Walter Jentzen (West German Proton Therapy Centre Essen)

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