Thesis

Implementation of a portable PET scanner for proton therapy beam quality assessment

• Call:

  ProtoTera Call 2021/2

• Academic Year:

  2021

• Supervisor:

  Ana Luisa Silva

• Co-Supervisor:

  Pedro Correia

• Host Institution:

  I3N – Institute for Nanostructures, Nanomodelling and Nanofabrication (Aveiro Pole)

• Granting Degree Institution:

  Universidade de Aveiro

• Typology:

  National

• Abstract:

  In Proton Therapy (PT), the highly conformal dose irradiation of the tumours makes this technique very powerful, resulting in better treatment outcomes and survival rates, and overall quality of life of cancer patients. Among the advantages of PT compared with typical photon-based radiotherapy, the depth-dose profile (Bragg-Peak), is also a great concern for clinical usage, demanding an extremely precise beam control since the dose profile is much more sensitive to spatial uncertainties than in conventional radiotherapy, potentially delivering unwanted doses to healthy tissues if the treatment is not properly planned and controlled. To measure the beam profile during a PT procedure, imaging techniques based on secondary particles detection originated by the interaction of the beam particles in the tissues have been proposed. PET imaging is being widely studied for clinical practice and real-time assessment of beam interaction in the body. EasyPET is a cost-effective benchtop PET system using an innovative and patented acquisition method, with a spatial resolution <1mm. Its major advantages are its high compactness and portability, contrary to typically bulky PET scanners, allowing the mobility and integration in different PT facilities locations. During this work, the PhD student will develop a benchtop, portable and high-performance PET prototype based on easyPET technology, for 3D quality assessment of proton beam delivery in PT Centers. The feasibility of adapting and integrating EasyPET technology in PT usage will be evaluated through in-beam tests and the benefits of using this technology in future generation PET scanners in PT facilities for guided precision particle therapy will be investigated. This project answers to the great interest of the community in these devices due to the increasing number of PT facilities installed worldwide and the need to master the complexity of these treatments to unlock new possibilities and breakthroughs in cancer treatment.