Teaching treatment planning for protons with educational open-source software: experience with FoCa and matRad

Journal of Applied Clinical Medical Physics
Daniel Sanchez-Parcerisa, Jose Udías

Abstract

Open-source, MATLAB-based treatment planning systems FoCa and matRAD were used in a pilot project for training prospective medical physicists and postgraduate physics students in treatment planning and beam modeling techniques for proton therapy. In the four exercises designed, students learnt how proton pencil beams are modeled and how dose is calculated in three-dimensional voxelized geometries, how pencil beam scanning plans (PBS) are constructed, the rationale behind the choice of spot spacing in patient plans, and the dosimetric differences between photon IMRT and proton PBS plans. Sixty students of two courses participated in the pilot project, with over 90% of satisfactory rating from student surveys. The pilot experience will certainly be continued.

References

Dec 1, 2000·Physics in Medicine and Biology·M KrämerU Weber
Jun 12, 2004·Medical Dosimetry : Official Journal of the American Association of Medical Dosimetrists·Marshall A Tewell, Robert Adams
Jul 25, 2009·Australasian Physical & Engineering Sciences in Medicine·J MeyerI Kalet
Feb 15, 2012·Physics in Medicine and Biology·Benjamin ClasieHanne M Kooy
Nov 12, 2014·Physics in Medicine and Biology·D Sánchez-ParcerisaA Carabe
Feb 4, 2016·Physics in Medicine and Biology·D Sanchez-ParcerisaA Carabe
Oct 21, 2016·Physics in Medicine and Biology·Daniel Sanchez-ParcerisaAlejandro Carabe
Jan 24, 2017·Physics in Medicine and Biology·Kim Melanie KrausAsja Pfaffenberger
Nov 22, 2017·Medical Physics·Ana María Barragán MonteroJohn Aldo Lee

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
IEC
irradiation

Software Mentioned

ENSAR2
matRad
MATLAB
TriP98
FoCa
MediNet
ASTROID

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