Microdosimetric measurements for neutron-absorbed dose determination during proton therapy.

This work presents microdosimetric measurements performed at the Midwest Proton Radiotherapy Institute in Bloomington, Indiana, USA. The measurements were done simulating clinical setups with a water phantom and for a variety of stopping targets. The water phantom was irradiated by a proton spread out Bragg peak (SOBP) and by a proton pencil beam.

Influence of beam efficiency through the patient-specific collimator on secondary neutron dose equivalent in double scattering and uniform scanning modes of proton therapy.

Purpose: Conventional proton therapy facilities use double scattering nozzles, which are optimized for delivery of a few fixed field sizes. Similarly, uniform scanning nozzles are commissioned for a limited number of field sizes. However, cases invariably occur where the treatment field is significantly different from these fixed field sizes.

Scattered neutron dose equivalent from an active scanning proton beam delivery system.

A study of neutron production from a novel active scanning proton beam delivery system at the Midwest Proton Radiotherapy Institute (MPRI) has been performed. The neutron dose equivalent was determined using a neutron rem (roentgen equivalent in man) detector which has an upper energy limit of 10 MeV. Measurement were taken at 0, 45, and 90 degrees from the proton beam central axis and for various proton beam energies (127-208 MeV) and scanned field sizes (25-144 cm2).