Secondary and scattered radiation dosimetry in proton and conventional therapy
Project coordinator: Liliana Stolarczyk, M.Sc., Eng.
Lead time: November 2011 - January 2013
The subject of the project is secondary and scattered radiation dosimetry generated during proton and MegaVolt radiotherapy.
Using advanced medical technologies in radiotherapy (e.g. proton radiotherapy, IMRT technique) resulted in a cure rate increase among patients who were treated with these methods. At the same time the interaction of a high-energy ionizing radiation, used in teleradiotherapy, with the patient's body or with collimators designed for narrowing the field of radiation, caused an increase of undesired doses from the generated in this way scuttered radiation (scuttered X radiation) and secondary radiation (neutrons, γ radiation).
In view of an increase of cancer detection, increase of number of patients treated with radiotherapy, including pediatric patients, and increase of life expectancy, the occurrence of the increase of risk of late radiation effect, including secondary cancer, caused by the undesired dose of secondary and scattered radiation received by the patient during therapy, seems to be essential.
It is particularly important to estimate and, as far as possible, to minimize patients' exposure to enhanced radiobiological effectiveness of secondary particles (e.g. neutrons arising during proton radiotherapy).