title: Increased efficacy of radiation therapy by use of proton beam.
abstract: Proton beam treatment techniques provide a powerful approach to improving dose distribution (decrease treatment volume towards target volume) and hence increasing dose to target with resultant higher tumor control rates and lesser morbity. To achieve these dose distributions in patients requires use of modern imaging techniques, rigid immobilization systems, confirmation of target position vis a vis the proton beam at each treatment session, treatment planning which feature beam's eye view, displays of uncertainty, dose at each anatomic point, boli based on accurate assessment of density along each pixel, etc. Experience at MGH/MEEI/HCL has yielded a disease-free survival of 78% for patients with chordoma/chondrosarcoma of base of skull. Local control is achieved by 98% of patients treated for choroidal melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Suit
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goitein
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Munzenrider
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Verhey
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Urie
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gragoudas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koehler
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gottschalk
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sisterson
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tatsuzaki
mesh_terms: D002813:Chondrosarcoma / Q000532:radiotherapy; D002817:Chordoma / Q000532:radiotherapy; D002830:Choroid Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000532:radiotherapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D010315:Particle Accelerators; D011522:Protons; D011827:Radiation; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000191:economics; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012106:Research; D012888:Skull Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy
chemical_list: D011522:Protons