Effect of titanium dental implants on proton therapy delivered for head tumors: experimental validation using an anthropomorphic head phantom

A dosimetric experiment was performed at the Medico-Technical Complex in the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, to investigate the effects of metallic dental implants in the treatment of head and neck tumours with proton therapy. The study evaluated 2D dose distributions of clinical treatment plans measured in an anthropomorphic phantom and compared them to a treatment planning system. Two grade 4 Titanium implants were inserted in a maxillary area. GafChromic EBT2 films measured the 2D delivered dose. Two target scenarios were assessed—implants in the isocentre and in the entrance region of the Bragg curve. Results showed gamma index values of 84.3% and 86.4% respectively, indicating uncertainties in clinically planned dose distributions. LET spectra near implants were also studied using solid-state nuclear track detectors, detecting scattered particles outside the target.

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