Variations in linear energy transfer distributions within a European proton therapy planning comparison of paediatric posterior fossa tumours.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

Radiotherapy for paediatric posterior fossa tumours may cause complications in the brainstem and upper spinal cord due to high doses. With proton therapy (PT) this risk may increase due to higher relative biological effectiveness (RBE) from elevated linear energy transfer (LET). This study assesses variations in LET in the brainstem and spinal cord in proton treatment plans from European centres.

Materials and methods

Ten European PT centres using spot-scanning PT planned two paediatric posterior fossa cases: One overlapping partly with the brainstem and upper spinal cord, prescribed 54 Gy(RBE), and the second wrapping around these organs, prescribed 59.4 Gy(RBE). Dose-averaged LET distributions were assessed in volumes of the brainstem and spinal cord

SUBMITTER: Lægdsmand P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11718416 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature