Reconstructed pCT Images Using Monte Carlo Simulations of a Scintillating Glass Detector

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the feasibility of proton computed tomography using a novel scintillating glass detector and Monte Carlo simulations, showing promising image quality and cost-effectiveness for clinical applications.

Contribution

It introduces a new scintillating glass detector design for pCT and evaluates its performance with Monte Carlo simulations using different reconstruction algorithms.

Findings

Reconstructed images show acceptable accuracy in proton stopping power.

The detector design is cost-effective and suitable for clinical use.

Reconstruction algorithms impact image quality and contrast.

Abstract

The high cost and low image quality traditionally associated with proton computed tomography (pCT) have prevented it from seeing significant use in clinical settings. A cheap, compact, high-density scintillating glass detector capable of being attached to existing proton therapy gantries may help address these concerns. The design of the detector allows for use in conjunction with single-proton counting reconstruction algorithms, as well as beam-based algorithms that do not resolve individual protons within an accelerator bunch. This study presents quantitative reconstructed images of proton stopping power from Monte Carlo generated pCT scans using the radiation transport code MCNP6, demonstrating the feasibility of proton imaging using this detector design. Relative error and contrast have been examined and compared for images reconstructed using two reconstruction algorithms: a standard filtered backprojection algorithm to act as a benchmark, and a variant of a pCT algorithm which utilizes the concept of distance-driven binning.