F. Hueso-González

Instituto de Física Corpuscular

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Evaluation of MACACO III Compton camera for assessment of radiopharmaceutical treatments

L. Barrientos M. Borja-Lloret J. V. Casaña F. Hueso-González J. Pérez-Curbelo

The IRIS group of IFIC-Valencia has developed a third version of a Compton camera prototype for medical applications, MACACO III, which is being evaluated for imaging the distribution of the radiopharmaceutical treatments in the patient's body. The prototype consists of three detectors made of Lanthanum (III) bromide scintillator crystals coupled to silicon photomultiplier arrays. After initial evaluations with different radiotracers in phantoms and patients, the aim is to study the limitations and possible system improvements for different radiotracers, in particular in the low energy range. Based on Monte Carlo simulations in GATE v8.2 validated with experimental data taken with the prototype, several studies with a two-plane system were carried out to evaluate possible ways to improve the system performance. Results of the evaluation by means of simulations corresponding to efficiency and spatial resolution studies at different energies are presented.

Silicon Photomultiplier

10.1109/nssmicrtsd49126.2023.10337990

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Tests of a Compton imaging prototype in a monoenergetic 4.44 MeV photon field—a benchmark setup for prompt gamma-ray imaging devices

Journal of Instrumentation (2016)

C. Golnik D. Bemmerer W. Enghardt F. Fiedler F. Hueso-González

The finite range of a proton beam in tissue opens new vistas for the delivery of a highly conformal dose distribution in radiotherapy. However, the actual particle range, and therefore the accurate dose deposition, is sensitive to the tissue composition in the proton path. Range uncertainties, resulting from limited knowledge of this tissue composition or positioning errors, are accounted for in the form of safety margins. Thus, the unverified particle range constrains the principle benefit of proton therapy. Detecting prompt γ-rays, a side product of proton-tissue interaction, aims at an on-line and non-invasive monitoring of the particle range, and therefore towards exploiting the potential of proton therapy. Compton imaging of the spatial prompt γ-ray emission is a promising measurement approach. Prompt γ-rays exhibit emission energies of several MeV. Hence, common radioactive sources cannot provide the energy range a prompt γ-ray imaging device must be designed for. In this work a benchmark measurement-setup for the production of a localized, monoenergetic 4.44 MeV γ-ray source is introduced. At the Tandetron accelerator at the HZDR, the proton-capture resonance reaction 15N(p,α γ4.439)12C is utilized. This reaction provides the same nuclear de-excitation (and γ-ray emission) occurrent as an intense prompt γ-ray line in proton therapy. The emission yield is quantitatively described. A two-stage Compton imaging device, dedicated for prompt γ-ray imaging, is tested at the setup exemplarily. Besides successful imaging tests, the detection efficiency of the prototype at 4.44 MeV is derived from the measured data. Combining this efficiency with the emission yield for prompt γ-rays, the number of valid Compton events, induced by γ-rays in the energy region around 4.44 MeV, is estimated for the prototype being implemented in a therapeutic treatment scenario. As a consequence, the detection efficiency turns out to be a key parameter for prompt γ-rays Compton imaging limiting the applicability of the prototype in its current realization.

Benchmark (surveying)

10.1088/1748-0221/11/06/p06009

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Citations (44)

Fast timing with BGO (and other scintillators) on digital silicon photomultipliers for Prompt Gamma Imaging

2021 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference (NSS/MIC) (2014)

J. Petzoldt K. Römer T. Kormoll M. Berthel A. Dreyer

Particle therapy is supposed to be an advanced treatment modality compared to conventional radiotherapy because of the well-defined range of the ions. Prompt gamma rays, produced in nuclear reactions between ion and nuclei, can be utilized for real-time range verification to exploit the full potential of particle therapy. Several devices have been investigated in the field of Prompt Gamma Imaging (PGI), like Slit and Compton Cameras. The latter need very high detection efficiency as well as good time and energy resolution, requiring a versatile scintillation detector. In Positron Emission Tomography (PET), LSO and LYSO are known for their good time resolution, while the lower cost alternative BGO shows worse performance. In PGI however, where gamma rays have energies up to 10 MeV, the light output of a scintillator is up to 20 times larger compared to PET. This reduces the statistical contribution of the time resolution, which is the dominant part in case of BGO. Thus, BGO could be a reasonable alternative to LSO/LYSO for applications in PGI. Hence, experiments at the ELBE accelerator at HZDR (Germany) were performed using digital silicon photomultiplier (dSiPM) from Philips with monolithic BGO and LYSO crystals, and for completeness with GAGG, CeBr ₃ , CsI, CaF ₂ , and GSO. The time resolution of BGO compared to the other scintillators will be presented for a wide range of trigger- and validation levels as well as validation lengths of the dSiPM. Timing resolutions below 220 ps are obtained for BGO, while LYSO and CeBr ₃ achieve about 170 ps.

Lyso-

Silicon Photomultiplier

Gamma camera

10.1109/nssmic.2014.7431245

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A simple analytical method for heterogeneity corrections in low dose rate prostate brachytherapy

Physics in Medicine and Biology (2015)

F. Hueso-González J. Vijande Facundo Ballester José Pérez‐Calatayud Frank‐André Siebert

In low energy brachytherapy, the presence of tissue heterogeneities contributes significantly to the discrepancies observed between treatment plan and delivered dose.In this work, we present a simplified analytical dose calculation algorithm for heterogeneous tissue.We compare it with Monte Carlo computations and assess its suitability for integration in clinical treatment planning systems.The algorithm, named as RayStretch, is based on the classic equivalent path length method and TG-43 reference data.Analytical and Monte Carlo dose calculations using Penelope2008 are compared for a benchmark case: a prostate patient with calcifications.The results show a remarkable agreement between simulation and algorithm, the latter having in addition a high calculation speed.The proposed analytical model is compatible with clinical real-time treatment planning systems based on TG-43 consensus datasets for improving dose calculation and treatment quality in heterogeneous tissue.Moreover, the algorithm is applicable for any type of heterogeneities.

Benchmark (surveying)

10.1088/0031-9155/60/14/5455

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Citations (3)

Compact Method for Proton Range Verification Based on Coaxial Prompt Gamma-Ray Monitoring: A Theoretical Study

IEEE Transactions on Radiation and Plasma Medical Sciences (2019)

F. Hueso-González Thomas Bortfeld

Range uncertainties in proton therapy hamper treatment precision. Prompt gamma-rays were suggested 16 years ago for real-time range verification, and have already shown promising results in clinical studies with collimated cameras. Simultaneously, alternative imaging concepts without collimation are investigated to reduce the footprint and price of current prototypes. In this manuscript, a compact range verification method is presented. It monitors prompt gamma-rays with a single scintillation detector positioned coaxially to the beam and behind the patient. Thanks to the solid angle effect, proton range deviations can be derived from changes in the number of gamma-rays detected per proton, provided that the number of incident protons is well known. A theoretical background is formulated and the requirements for a future proof-of-principle experiment are identified. The potential benefits and disadvantages of the method are discussed, and the prospects and potential obstacles for its use during patient treatments are assessed. The final milestone is to monitor proton range differences in clinical cases with a statistical precision of 1 mm, a material cost of 25000 USD and a weight below 10 kg. This technique could facilitate the widespread application of in vivo range verification in proton therapy and eventually the improvement of treatment quality.

Collimated light

Coaxial

10.1109/trpms.2019.2930362

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Citations (8)

Nuclear methods for real-time range verification in proton therapy based on prompt gamma-ray imaging

F. Hueso-González Fernando

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Comments on “SPICE Model of Photomultiplier Tube Under Different Bias Conditions”

IEEE Sensors Journal (2021)

F. Hueso-González D. Ginestar José L. Hueso Jaime Riera

The paper "SPICE Model of Photomultiplier Tube Under Different Bias Conditions" is commented.We revisit the mathematical formulation to compensate for some ambiguities in the original manuscript, and point out some inconsistencies in the results and reproducibility of the simulations, as well as in the optimized parameters originally obtained with the PSPICE simulation engine.All simulations are recalculated with the NGSPICE software using the corrected parameters and compared against the original figures.The reproducibility of our simulations is independently verified with PSPICE, as well as by numerically solving the analytical system of non-linear equations using Newton's method within MATLAB.

Spice

10.1109/jsen.2021.3062428

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Citations (8)

90: Comparison of Scintillation Detectors based on BGO and LSO for Prompt Gamma Imaging in Particle Therapy

Radiotherapy and Oncology (2014)

F. Hueso-González D. Bemmerer M. Berthel A. Biegun J. von Borany

Particle Therapy

10.1016/s0167-8140(15)34111-6

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Experimental characterization of MACACO III Compton telescope for hadron therapy treatment monitoring

L. Barrientos P. Borja-LLoret J. V. Casaña J. Garcı́a López F. Hueso-González

Trabajo presentado a las Jornadas de Fisica Medica, organizadas por la Real Sociedad Espanola de Fisica y el IFIC a traves de la instalacion de Fisica Medica IFIMED, celebradas virtualmente del 14 al 15 de diciembre de 2020.

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A compton imaging prototype for range verification in particle therapy

C. Golnik F. Fiedler K. Heidel F. Hueso-González T. Kormoll

During the 2012 AAPM Annual Meeting 33 percent of the delegates considered the range uncertainty in proton therapy as the main obstacle of becoming a mainstream treatment modality. Utilizing prompt gamma emission, a side product of particle tissue interaction opens the possibility of in-beam dose verification, due to the direct correlation between prompt gamma emission and particle dose deposition. Compton imaging has proven to be a technique to measure three dimensional gamma emission profiles ([1], [2]) and opens the possibility of adaptive dose monitoring and treatment correction.

Particle Therapy

10.1109/animma.2013.6728054

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Citations (1)