Comparison of passive-scattered and intensity-modulated proton beam therapy of craniospinal irradiation with proton beams for pediatric and young adult patients with brain tumors

Purpose To investigate the dose stability of craniospinal irradiation based on irradiation method of proton beam therapy (PBT). Methods and materials Twenty-four pediatric and young adult brain tumor patients (age: 1–24 years) were examined. Treatment method was passive-scattered PBT (PSPT) in 8 patients and intensity-modulated PBT (IMPT) in 16 patients. The whole vertebral body (WVB) technique was used in 13 patients whose ages were younger than 10, and vertebral body sparing (VBS) technique was used for the remaining 11 patients aged 10 and above. Dose stability of planning target volume (PTV) against set-up error was investigated. Results The minimum dose ( D min ) of IMPT was higher than that of PSPT ( p = 0.01). Inhomogeneity index (INH) of IMPT was lower than that of PSPT ( p = 0.004). When the irradiation field of the cervical spinal cord level (C level) was shifted, the maximum dose ( D max ) was lower in IMPT, and mean dose ( D mean ) was higher than PSPT as movement became greater to the cranial–caudal direction ( p = 0.000–0.043). D min was higher and INH was lower in IMPT in all directions ( p = 0.000–0.034). When the irradiation field of the lumber spinal cord level (L level) was shifted, D max was lower in IMPT as movement became greater to the cranial direction ( p = 0.000–0.028). D min was higher and INH was lower in IMPT in all directions ( p = 0.000–0.022). Conclusions The PTV doses of IMPT and PSPT are robust and stable in both anterior–posterior and lateral directions at both C level and L level, but IMPT is more robust and stable than PSPT for cranial–caudal movements. Trial registry Clinical Trial Registration number: No. 04-03.