Prospects of proton beam range monitoring and hypoxia assessment with modular J-PET scanner

• Pawel Moskal (Jagiellonian University)

Jagiellonian PET (J-PET) is a novel cost-effective positron emission tomography technology based on plastic scintillators. It allows for the construction of modular, lightweight, and portable PET scanners. J-PET enables monitoring of the proton beam range through the imaging of positron-emitting isotopes created in the patient's body during proton therapy. Moreover, the J-PET prototype constructed at the Jagiellonian University is the first scanner enabling multi-photon imaging, positronium imaging and quantum entanglement imaging via measurement of photons’ polarization. Positronium is an exotic atom composed of an electron from tissue and the positron emitted by the radionuclide, and it may be formed in human tissues in the intramolecular spaces. In living organisms, about 40% of positron annihilations occur through the creation of positronium. The positronium lifetime in the patient's body is sensitive to the nanostructure and metabolism of human tissues. It is also sensitive to the concentration of oxygen molecules. Therefore, positronium is considered a possible biomarker of hypoxia. In the talk, the first applications of modular J-PET scanner for proton beam monitoring will be presented. The talk will include also the presentation of the pilot clinical applications of the J-PET scanner for standard PET imaging as well as for positronium imaging. We will also present arguments demonstrating that J-PET opens perspectives for the application of positronium as a biomarker for in-vivo assessment of the degree of hypoxia in PET imaging as well as in the monitoring of hadron therapy.

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