200 MeV proton radiography studies with a hand phantom using a prototype proton CT scanner

Tia Plautz, V. Bashkirov, V. Feng, F. Hurley, R. P. Johnson, C. Leary, S. Macafee, A. Plumb, V. Rykalin, H. F.W. Sadrozinski, K. Schubert, R. Schulte, B. Schultze, D. Steinberg, M. Witt, A. Zatserklyaniy

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Proton radiography has applications in patient alignment and verification procedures for proton beam radiation therapy. In this paper, we report an experiment which used 200 MeV protons to generate proton energy-loss and scattering radiographs of a hand phantom. The experiment used the first-generation proton computed tomography (CT) scanner prototype, which was installed on the research beam line of the clinical proton synchrotron at Loma Linda University Medical Center. It was found that while both radiographs displayed anatomical details of the hand phantom, the energy-loss radiograph had a noticeably higher resolution. Nonetheless, scattering radiography may yield more contrast between soft and bone tissue than energy-loss radiography, however, this requires further study. This study contributes to the optimization of the performance of the next-generation of clinical proton CT scanners. Furthermore, it demonstrates the potential of proton imaging (proton radiography and CT), which is now within reach of becoming available as a new, potentially low-dose medical imaging modality. © 1982-2012 IEEE.
Original languageAmerican English
Title of host publication2012 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference Record (NSS/MIC)
Pages875-881
Number of pages7
Volume33
Edition4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 8 2013
Event2012 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference Record, NSS/MIC 2012 - Anaheim, CA, United States
Duration: Oct 29 2012Nov 3 2012

Publication series

NameIEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging
ISSN (Print)0278-0062

Conference

Conference2012 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference Record, NSS/MIC 2012
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityAnaheim, CA
Period10/29/1211/3/12

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Radiation
  • Nuclear and High Energy Physics
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

Keywords

  • Data reduction
  • Tomographic reconstruction of material properties
  • proton imaging
  • spatial resolution
  • Protons
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed/instrumentation
  • Algorithms
  • Hand/diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods
  • Radiation Dosage
  • Phantoms, Imaging

Disciplines

  • Medical Biophysics
  • Computer Sciences

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