Proton therapy analysis using the Monte Carlo method

Area of Science:

• Medical physics
• Radiation oncology
• Computational biology

Background:

• Proton therapy offers precise radiation delivery.
• Accurate modeling of proton transport in tissue is crucial for treatment planning.
• The Transport of Ions in Matter (TRIM) program provides essential data for such simulations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine proton trajectories in muscle tissue using Monte Carlo simulations.
• To compute the dose distribution of a proton pencil beam.
• To validate the reliability of the Monte Carlo method against experimental data.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Transport of Ions in Matter (TRIM) program for range and straggling data.
• Employed the Monte Carlo technique to simulate monoenergetic 60 MeV proton transport.
• Calculated proton beam profiles and deposited dose in muscle tissue.

Main Results:

• Computed proton trajectories and dose deposition profiles in muscle tissue.
• Demonstrated good agreement between simulated results and experimental values.
• Validated the accuracy and reliability of the Monte Carlo simulation approach.

Conclusions:

• The Monte Carlo method, using TRIM data, accurately predicts proton beam behavior in tissue.
• This simulation technique is reliable for proton therapy treatment planning.
• Further research can leverage this validated method for optimizing proton therapy.