title: Prompt Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy: Advancing Dose, Range and Tumor Monitoring in Particle Therapy
creator: Meles Freitas, Hugo Filipe
subject: ddc-500
subject: 500 Natural sciences and mathematics
subject: ddc-530
subject: 530 Physics
subject: ddc-610
subject: 610 Medical sciences Medicine
description: Random and systematic uncertainties pose significant risks in charged ion therapy, potentially leading to under-dosing of tumors or over-dosing of healthy tissues. This study  introduces a novel method to measure dose, range, and tumor localization in real time using prompt gamma-ray spectroscopy (PGS) and gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCA). Gd accumulates in tumors and emits prompt gamma-rays and X-rays upon irradiation. While neutron capture by Gd is well-understood, this research highlights the role of particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) as a key interaction affecting the Gd signal. The study benchmarks and improves PGS models for Monte Carlo simulations and experimentally investigates the spectral response of Gd under varying particle beam conditions. The underlying physics of  characteristic X-rays was analyzed, and the feasibility of using Gd and PGS for accurate dose and tumor monitoring was explored. This work lays the groundwork for the clinical  use of PGS with GBCAs, offering a promising appro
date: 2025
type: Dissertation
type: info:eu-repo/semantics/doctoralThesis
type: NonPeerReviewed
format: application/pdf
identifier: https://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/volltextserver/36101/1/Thesis_vFinal_Revised.pdf
identifier: DOI:10.11588/heidok.00036101
identifier: urn:nbn:de:bsz:16-heidok-361011
identifier:   Meles Freitas, Hugo Filipe  (2025) Prompt Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy: Advancing Dose, Range and Tumor Monitoring in Particle Therapy.  [Dissertation]     
relation: https://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/volltextserver/36101/
relation: 10.54499/2020.05031.BD
rights: info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
rights: http://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/volltextserver/help/license_urhg.html
language: eng