Fast Monte Carlo Dose Calculation in Proton Therapy

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent advancements in fast Monte Carlo dose calculation methods for proton therapy, emphasizing the importance of speed improvements for treatment accuracy, customization, and emerging AI-based techniques.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of the latest techniques that significantly accelerate Monte Carlo dose calculations, including AI-based methods, for proton therapy.

Findings

Achieved dose calculation speeds of 10^6 - 10^7 protons/sec.

Emerging AI techniques are promising for further speed enhancements.

Fast calculations enable more precise and personalized proton therapy treatments.

Abstract

This article examines the critical role of fast Monte Carlo dose calculations in advancing proton therapy techniques, particularly in the context of increasing treatment customization and precision. As adaptive radiotherapy and other patient-specific approaches evolve, the need for accurate and precise dose calculations, essential for techniques like proton-based stereotactic radiosurgery, becomes more prominent. These calculations, however, are time-intensive, with the treatment planning/optimization process constrained by the achievable speed of dose computations. Thus, enhancing the speed of Monte Carlo methods is vital, as it not only facilitates the implementation of novel treatment modalities but also improves the optimality of treatment plans. Today, the state-of-the-art in Monte Carlo dose calculation speeds is 106 - 107 protons per second. This review highlights the latest advancements in fast Monte Carlo dose calculations that have led to such speeds, including emerging artificial intelligence-based techniques, and discusses their application in both current and emerging proton therapy strategies.