PTCOG Ocular Survey - Perspective on Ocular Particle Therapy: Current Practices and Emerging Trends

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Radiation Oncology
• Medical Physics

Background:

• Ocular particle therapy (OPT) is a rapidly advancing field for treating eye conditions.
• Understanding the current global status and trends in OPT is crucial for future development and standardization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of the current status and emerging trends in ocular particle therapy (OPT) worldwide.
• To identify key challenges and future directions in the field of OPT.

Main Methods:

• An online survey with 127 questions was developed by the Particle Therapy Co-Operative Group Ocular Subcommittee.
• The survey was distributed to treatment centers globally between April 2022 and January 2024.
• Topics covered included program organization, beamline specifics, diagnoses, patient numbers, treatment planning, quality assurance, and future developments.

Main Results:

• Twenty facilities offered OPT by the end of 2023, treating approximately 1800 patients annually, predominantly for uveal melanoma.
• Most treatments utilize dedicated horizontal beamlines (high and low energy), while newer programs increasingly use high-energy general-purpose beamlines.
• Nine centers plan system upgrades within five years to incorporate advanced beam delivery, imaging, and planning technologies.

Conclusions:

• While dosimetry and fractionation protocols are largely standardized, significant variability exists in planning, quality assurance, and delivery workflows.
• Obsolescence of dedicated systems and planning tools, alongside a lack of standardization, present ongoing challenges.
• Transitioning to non-dedicated systems enhances accessibility but requires careful evaluation of dosimetric trade-offs and clinical outcomes; multicenter collaboration and innovation are vital.