Semester Award Granted
Spring 2025
Submission Date
May 2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Professional Science Masters (PSM)
Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]
Silvia Pella
Thesis/Dissertation Co-Chair
Theodora Leventouri
Abstract
Proton arc pencil beam scanning (PBS) proton therapy is a novel approach to treating complex cancer in the field of radiation therapy. It provides conformal dose coverage to the CTV while reducing dose to healthy tissues. Unlike traditional proton therapy modalities, such as intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT), which primarily relies on static beam delivery, proton arc utilizes a rotational approach to irradiate the tumor from a multitude of angles, utilizing an arc of proton beams. The successful clinical implementation of proton arc PBS technology necessitates the development and validation of advanced treatment planning optimization algorithms and treatment planning techniques to generate clinically viable treatment plans. These new algorithms and treatment planning techniques are crucial to harness the full potential of proton arc, particularly when applied to anatomically challenging sites.
This thesis aims to explore the impact of key treatment planning parameters such as energy layer spacing and spot spacing on the dosimetric quality of proton arc PBS proton therapy plans. The study was performed in eight patients, including four with prostate cancer and four with lung cancer. The dosimetric evaluation included analysis of target coverage, homogeneity index (HI), and OARs sparing to determine an optimal parameter for clinical implementation.
Recommended Citation
Rana, Umesh, "INVESTIGATING TREATMENT PLANNING PARAMETERS FOR PROTON ARC TECHNIQUE IN PENCIL BEAM SCANNING (PBS) PROTON THERAPY" (2025). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 33.
https://digitalcommons.fau.edu/etd_general/33