In-beam PET imaging for the control of heavy-ion tumour therapy

A method for the in-situ control of the heavy-ion tumour therapy by means of positron emission tomography is introduced. This method is founded on the measurement of the dynamic spatial distribution of /spl beta//sup +/-emitters generated by nuclear fragmentation during the irradiation and the relationship between the spatial distributions of the /spl beta//sup +/-radioactivity and the dose. In order to study this relationship and to arrive at deducing the dose distribution from the measured /spl beta//sup +/-activity distribution a framework of model calculations is used. Results of phantom experiments with /sup 12/C ion beams are presented, demonstrating the good agreement between experiment and simulation as well as the possibilities and limits of treatment plan verification and beam monitoring.