McMullen Kevin P, Kerstiens John, Johnstone Peter A S
From *Indiana University Health Proton Therapy Center, Bloomington, IN; and †Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL.
Cancer J. 2014 Nov-Dec;20(6):393-6. doi: 10.1097/PPO.0000000000000075.
Many radiotherapy centers desire proton therapy (PrT) because the unique physical dosimetry allows for improved dose distribution in some clinical situations. These benefits are best described in skull base and many pediatric lesions. However, there are significant challenges to PrT that are overlooked or simply ignored when centers embark on the PrT journey particularly as it applies to pediatric patients.In this review, we review the Indiana University Health Proton Therapy Center experience regarding benefits and drawbacks of PrT for pediatric patients. In conclusion, centers aspiring to PrT capacity should be aware not only of the well-described benefits in some clinical scenarios, but also the significant challenges to the modality in its practical clinical application.
许多放疗中心都希望开展质子治疗（PrT），因为其独特的物理剂量学特性在某些临床情况下能改善剂量分布。这些优势在颅底病变和许多儿科疾病中体现得最为明显。然而，质子治疗存在重大挑战，而当放疗中心开启质子治疗之旅时，尤其是针对儿科患者，这些挑战往往被忽视或干脆被忽略了。在本综述中，我们回顾了印第安纳大学健康质子治疗中心在儿科患者质子治疗的利弊方面的经验。总之，有志于开展质子治疗的中心不仅应了解在某些临床场景中已被充分描述的优势，还应知晓该治疗方式在实际临床应用中面临的重大挑战。
