Image guided complex dose delivery for small animal radiotherapy

Abstract

The purpose of the Small Animal Radiation Research Platform (SARRP) is to demonstrate computed tomography, conformal irradiation, and treatment planning capabilities for small animals. The SARRP is a portable system for precision irradiation with beam sizes down to approximately 0.5 mm and optimally planned radiation with on-board cone-beam CT (CBCT) guidance. This paper describes the utilization of the precision radiation beam on the SARRP for “dose painting” complex structures in the mouse brain. Pencil beam dose painting aims to target the tumor as accurately as possible and give it the highest dose of radiation while sparing normal tissue as much as possible.