SU-E-T-279: A Novel Electron-Beam Combined with Magnetic Field Application for Radiotherapy

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiation Oncology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Current high-energy electron therapy can lead to significant radiation dose in healthy tissues anterior and posterior to the tumor target.
• Proton therapy offers precise dose deposition but is expensive and not widely accessible.
• There is a need for advanced radiotherapy techniques that enhance dose conformity and reduce side effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel beam delivery system using magnetic fields to precisely control electron beam depth-dose distribution.
• To demonstrate a workable magnetic field configuration that focuses electron beams within the tumor volume.
• To achieve a pseudo-Bragg peak depth dose distribution using a cost-effective system.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an electron accelerator capable of producing various electron energies.
• Designed and simulated a system of magnets to generate transverse magnetic fields, manipulating electron trajectories via the Lorentz force.
• Employed COMSOL Multiphysics for magnetic field calculations and FLUKA for electron beam Monte Carlo simulations.

Main Results:

• The magnetic field system successfully focused the electron beam, creating a peak dose deposition at a specific depth within the simulated tumor volume.
• The system demonstrated the ability to modify delivered dose by controlling electron motion, preventing scattering and reducing dose to remote tissues.
• Achieved a pseudo-Bragg peak depth dose distribution, comparable in therapeutic efficiency to ion beam therapy techniques.

Conclusions:

• The novel concept offers electron beam radiotherapy with dose deposition characteristics similar to, and in some aspects superior to, proton therapy.
• The system minimizes radiation to healthy tissues anterior and posterior to the tumor, allowing for higher, potentially more effective, therapeutic doses.
• This advanced electron beam delivery system presents a considerably less expensive alternative to current high-energy electron and ion beam therapies.