Comparison of PHITS, GEANT4, and HIBRAC simulations of depth-dependent yields of beta(+)-emitting nuclei during therapeutic particle irradiation to measured data
Journal article, 2013

For quality assurance in particle therapy, a non-invasive, in vivo range verification is highly desired. Particle therapy positron-emission-tomography (PT-PET) is the only clinically proven method up to now for this purpose. It makes use of the beta(+)-activity produced during the irradiation by the nuclear fragmentation processes between the therapeutic beam and the irradiated tissue. Since a direct comparison of beta(+)-activity and dose is not feasible, a simulation of the expected beta(+)-activity distribution is required. For this reason it is essential to have a quantitatively reliable code for the simulation of the yields of the beta(+)-emitting nuclei at every position of the beam path. In this paper results of the three-dimensional Monte-Carlo simulation codes PHITS, GEANT4, and the one-dimensional deterministic simulation code HIBRAC are compared to measurements of the yields of the most abundant beta(+)-emitting nuclei for carbon, lithium, helium, and proton beams. In general, PHITS underestimates the yields of positron-emitters. With GEANT4 the overall most accurate results are obtained. HIBRAC and GEANT4 provide comparable results for carbon and proton beams. HIBRAC is considered as a good candidate for the implementation to clinical routine PT-PET.

IN-BEAM PET

ACCURATE UNIVERSAL PARAMETERIZATION

PROTON THERAPY

RELATIVISTIC HEAVY-IONS

DISTRIBUTIONS

ABSORPTION CROSS-SECTIONS

MONTE-CARLO CALCULATION

FRAGMENT-PRODUCTION

CARBON-ION THERAPY

INDUCED BETA(+)-ACTIVITY

Author

Heide Rohling

Technische Universität Dresden

Lembit Sihver

Chalmers, Applied Physics, Nuclear Engineering

Marlen Priegnitz

Helmholtz

Wolfgang Enghardt

Technische Universität Dresden

Helmholtz

Fine Fiedler

Helmholtz

Physics in Medicine and Biology

0031-9155 (ISSN) 13616560 (eISSN)

Vol. 58 18 6355-6368

Subject Categories

Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging

DOI

10.1088/0031-9155/58/18/6355

More information

Latest update

9/15/2020