https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-024-05944-z
Regular Article
Monte Carlo simulation of polymer phantoms in proton therapy for eye tumor treatment
1
Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Ankara University, 06100, Ankara, Beşevler, Türkiye
2
Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Ankara University, 06100, Ankara, Beşevler, Türkiye
Received:
15
May
2024
Accepted:
24
December
2024
Published online:
15
January
2025
Traditional methods for treating eye tumors, such as surgery and radiation therapy, can cause damage to surrounding healthy tissues and unwanted side effects. In recent years, proton therapy has emerged as a significant alternative for the treatment of eye tumors. Proton therapy targets cancer cells using proton particles while minimizing damage to the surrounding healthy tissues. Unlike other radiation therapy techniques, proton therapy uses the Bragg peak, which allows protons to concentrate on a specific depth within the tissue. Proton therapy can deliver a high dose of radiation to the tumor area while protecting nearby healthy tissues. Additionally, proton therapy has a more favorable side effect profile than other treatment methods. This study focuses on simulations conducted on eyes and eye phantoms to examine the effects of proton therapy on eye tissues. The simulations analyzed physical effects such as ionization, recoils, and lateral straggle of proton beams using Bragg curves, recoil analyses, and atomic-level interactions. Results indicate that as the energy levels of proton beams increase, the range and energy transfer in eye tissues also increase. These findings emphasize the potential effectiveness of proton therapy for treating eye tumors. Polymer eye phantoms can serve as reliable tools in proton therapy simulations to optimize treatment planning. This study highlights the importance of proton therapy simulations and demonstrates the successful use of various polymer materials. Future studies may also examine the effects of heavy particles in addition to different polymer materials to comprehensively evaluate the impact of proton beams in biomedical applications.
© The Author(s) 2025
corrected publication 2025
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