| Abstract: |
Proton beam therapy is a unique modality of radiation that provides several physical advantages compared to traditional photon radiation. Protons have superior dose conformality and, therefore, significantly reduce normal tissue exposure to low-dose radiation in the central nervous system (CNS). This increased conformality may provide improved clinical outcomes for some indications. Examples of this benefit are explored and discussed in this chapter. However, there are certain limitations to proton therapy, including the high capital costs and the lack of robust prospective data on clinical outcomes. The benefits of proton therapy remain an active area of investigation, and ongoing studies to measure the potential reduction of treatment-related adverse effects will help to elucidate these controversies. In this chapter, the evolution, potential applications, and limitations of proton therapy are described, with a particular focus on CNS tumors. Important treatment considerations, treatment planning, and quality assurance guidelines are also highlighted. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2018, 2024. |
