Patient positioning in the proton radiotherapy era

J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 2010 May 13;29(1):47. doi: 10.1186/1756-9966-29-47.

Abstract

The main hindrance to the diffusion of proton therapy facilities is the high cost for gantry installations. An alternative technical option is provided by fixed-beam treatment rooms, where the patient is rotated and translated in space with a robotic arm solution to enable beam incidence from various angles. The technological efforts based on robotic applications made up to now for patient positioning in proton beam facilities are described here, highlighting their limitations and perspectives.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Equipment Design
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Patient Positioning / economics
  • Patient Positioning / instrumentation*
  • Patient Positioning / methods*
  • Proton Therapy*
  • Radiation Oncology / economics
  • Radiation Oncology / instrumentation*
  • Radiation Oncology / methods*
  • Radiotherapy / economics
  • Radiotherapy / instrumentation*
  • Radiotherapy / methods*
  • Robotics

Substances

  • Protons