Practice Patterns in Proton Therapy Treatment Planning – A Look at Challenging and Emerging Approaches
Description
“I wonder how other centers are addressing this issue” – Is a question that comes up frequently in particle therapy, which is a challenging and constantly evolving field. The Working Group on Particle Therapy Delivery and Practice (WGPDP) was recently formed to help answer these types of questions by performing peer-to-peer surveys on topical issues. The group’s first survey examined robust optimization/evaluation in head and neck proton therapy and achieved a response rate above 80% among eligible US-based proton centers. The survey helped answer key questions about how the proton community accounts for robustness during planning—optimization parameters, quantification and assessment, and how it is monitored during treatment. The group’s second survey is also addressing a very challenging topic—how to manage proton therapy in patients with implanted metallic objects. A third survey is looking at emerging approaches in proton therapy treatment planning including LET optimization and evaluation as well as RBE assessment. The purpose of this symposium is to describe the WGPDP’s purpose and unique method of data collection, and to share the results of these surveys back with the physics community in fulfillment of the group's official charge.