Pencil-beam scanning

Pencil beam scanning is the practice of steering a beam of radiation or charged particles across an object. It is often used in proton therapy, to reduce unnecessary radiation exposure to surrounding non-cancerous cells.

Ionizing radiation

Ionizing radiation photons or x-rays (IMRT) use pencil beam scanning to precisely target a tumor.[1] Photon pencil beam scans are defined as crossing of two beams to a fine point.

Charged particles

Several charged particles devices used with Proton therapy cancer centers use pencil beam scanning.[2] The newer proton therapy machines use a pencil beam scanning technology.[3] This technique is also called spot scanning.[4] The Paul Scherrer Institute was the developer of spot beam.[5]

Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy

Varian's IMPT system uses all pencil-beam controlled protons where the beam intensity can also be controlled at this small level. This can be done by going back and forth over a previously radiated area during the same radiation session.

See also

References
  1. Blake GM, Parker JC, Buxton FM, Fogelman I (October 1993). "Dual X-ray absorptiometry: a comparison between fan beam and pencil beam scans". Br J Radiol. 66 (790): 902–6. PMID 8220974.
  2. The Physics of Radiation Therapy.
  3. http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf10/K100766.pdf page4
  4. http://www.mdanderson.org/newsroom/news-backgrounders/03-30-09-advances-in-proton-therapy-pencil-beam-technology-reach-patient-care.html
  5. http://radmed.web.psi.ch/asm/gantry/scan/n_scan.html
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