Microdosimetric comparison of scanned and conventional proton beams used in radiation therapy.

Multiple groups have hypothesised that the use of scanning beams in proton therapy will reduce the neutron component of secondary radiation in comparison with conventional methods with a corresponding reduction in risks of radiation-induced cancers. Loma Linda University Medical Center (LLUMC) has had FDA marketing clearance for scanning beams since 1988 and an experimental scanning beam has been available at the LLUMC proton facility since 2001. The facility has a dedicated research room with a scanning beam and fast switching that allows its use during patient treatments.

Facility overview for a proton beam treatment center.

Proton beam therapy is now widely recognized as the most precise form of radiation treatment available for certain types of diseases. As such, there is an ever-increasing demand for efficient hospital-based systems capable of providing proton therapy on a routine basis. A hospital-based proton-beam treatment center consists of many systems that must be integrated to form a single simple-to-operate and maintain medical device.