Opportunities and limitations of multileaf collimator based intensity modulated proton therapy [Elektronische Ressource] / presented by Juliane Daartz

Dissertationsubmitted to theCombined Faculties for the Natural Sciences and for Mathematicsof the Ruperto-Carola University of Heidelberg, Germanyfor the degree ofDoctor of Natural SciencesPresented byDiplom-Physiker: Juliane DaartzBorn in: RostockOral examination: May 4th 2011iiOpportunities and limitations of multileaf collimatorbased intensity modulated proton therapyReferees: Prof. Dr. Uwe OelfkeProf. Dr. Harald PaganettiivAbstractOpportunities and limitations of multileaf collimator based intensity modulatedproton therapyThe vast majority of proton therapy institutes employ passive scattering beamlines. Treatmentsare delivered by means of laterally and distally conformed homogeneous dose distributions foreach beam direction by utilizing spread-out Bragg peaks and custom milled hardware. Mostnewly built proton facilities rely upon scanned proton beams to provide intensity modulatedtherapy (IMPT), improvements in treatment planning and delivery work ow. This thesisinvestigates the bene ts of IMPT in xed proton therapy beamlines and describes aspects ofmultileaf collimator (MLC) based IMPT delivery. We show that IMPT has the potential toincrease the range of applications for xed proton therapy beamlines. A method for sequencingintensity modulated treatment plans into a set of segments is presented and evaluated based onresults obtained for a set of clinical situations.