title: The proton treatment center at Loma Linda University Medical Center: rationale for and description of its development.
abstract: Proton radiation, a continuation of radiation oncology's historic search for an optimum dose distribution, offers superior characteristics for clinical radiation therapy. A complete facility for clinical proton radiation therapy has been designed for and constructed at Loma Linda University Medical Center. To bring about this achievement, a consortium of engineers, physicists, and physicians interested in the clinical applications of protons was necessary. The accelerator, the beam transport and delivery systems, the building, and the personnel who operate the system were all brought together to fully exploit the properties of protons for patient treatments, which are now underway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Medicine, Loma Linda University Medical Center, CA 92354.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Slater
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Archambeau
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Notarus
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Preston
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Slater
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000266:history* / Q000458:organization & administration; D002140:California; D005160:Facility Design and Construction; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy / Q000266:history*