Influence of Target Location Size and Patient Age on Normal Tissue Sparing- Proton and Photon Therapy in Paediatric Brain Tumour Patient-Specific Approach

摘要

This manuscript investigates the latest proton and photon radiation delivery techniques and the delivered dose distribution dependence on age and brain tumour location for simulated paediatric patients. Brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer-related burden in childhood cancer survivors. Standard treatment regimens include radiotherapy, and whilst photon therapy is commonly prescribed, proton particles (where available) have been proven to reduce the risk of long-term illness and morbidities. Differences between the two modalities are not fully quantified in paediatric patients for various intracranial tumour sites or age. Ependymoma proton plans demonstrated greater dose reduction for the 9 vs. 13-year-old patients (pituitary gland p < 0.001). Whilst medulloblastoma proton plans achieved greater maximum dose sparing to optic structures (4.8–12.6 Gy optic chiasm), brainstem sparing was limited (~0.5 Gy). Understanding these differences may help clinicians estimate the benefit and improve referral across available centres.