Proton Beam Therapy

Dae Yong Kim; Sung Yong Park

doi:10.5124/jkma.2008.51.7.638

Journal List > J Korean Med Assoc > v.51(7) > 1042048

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Kim and Park: Proton Beam Therapy

Focused Issue of This Month

Cancer Therapy Using State-of-the-Art Radiotherapy Devices

Journal of the Korean Medical Association

Journal of the Korean Medical Association 2008; 51(7): 638-642.

Published online: 31 July 2008

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2008.51.7.638

Proton Beam Therapy

Dae Yong Kim, MD, Sung Yong Park, MD

Proton Therapy Center, National Cancer Center, Korea. radiopia@ncc.re.kr

Abstract

Proton is quite different from x-ray in terms of energy emission. As it enters a cancer patient's body through skin and tissue, it releases a relatively low dose of energy before it reaches the target. It, however, hits the targeted tumor by depositing the biggest dose of energy on it, then suddenly stopping its activity afterwards. The point where the highest energy is released is called as the Bragg peak. The proton beam has many advantages over the conventional x-ray beam because the proton beam radiates primarily the tumor site, leaving the surrounding healthy tissue and organs totally unharmed or relatively less damaged. Thus, the patients can enjoy much more enhanced quality-of-life during and after the treatment as well as have a high probability to be cured from their diseases.

Keywords: Proton, Bragg peak, X-ray

Figures and Tables

Figure 1

Dose distribution of proton beam and x-ray.

Figure 2

Computer planning of proton therapy for patient with hepatocellular carcinoma. The normal liver volume irradiated with x-ray beam (upper) is much larger than proton beam (lower).

Figure 3

Comparison between conventional x-ray therapy and proton therapy for whole spinal irradiation.

Figure 4

Graphic structural design of Proton Therapy Center in National Cancer Center (Goyang, Korea), which is composed of cyclotron, beam transport system, two rotating gantry and one fixed beam rooms.

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