Optimization of Carbon Ion Treatment Plans by Integrating Tissue Specific α/β-Values for Patients with Non-Resectable Pancreatic Cancer.

Background: The aim of the thesis is to improve treatment plans of carbon ion irradiation by integrating the tissues' specific [Formula: see text]-values for patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC).

Material And Methods: Five patients with LAPC were included in this study. By the use of the treatment planning system Syngo RT Planning (Siemens, Erlangen, Germany) treatment plans with carbon ion beams have been created.

Treatment of arrhythmias by external charged particle beams: a Langendorff feasibility study.

Hadron therapy has already proven to be successful in cancer therapy, and might be a noninvasive alternative for the ablation of cardiac arrhythmias in humans. We present a pilot experiment investigating acute effects of a 12C irradiation on the AV nodes of porcine hearts in a Langendorff setup. This setup was adapted to the requirements of charged particle therapy.

Atrioventricular node ablation in Langendorff-perfused porcine hearts using carbon ion particle therapy: methods and an in vivo feasibility investigation for catheter-free ablation of cardiac arrhythmias.

Background: Particle therapy, with heavy ions such as carbon-12 ((12)C), delivered to arrhythmogenic locations of the heart could be a promising new means for catheter-free ablation. As a first investigation, we tested the feasibility of in vivo atrioventricular node ablation, in Langendorff-perfused porcine hearts, using a scanned 12C beam.

Methods And Results: Intact hearts were explanted from 4 (30-40 kg) pigs and were perfused in a Langendorff organ bath.

Imaging dose assessment for IGRT in particle beam therapy.

Introduction: Image-guided advanced photon and particle beam treatments are promising options for improving lung treatments. Extensive use of imaging increases the overall patient dose. The aim of this study was to determine the imaging dose for different IGRT solutions used in photon and particle beam therapy.