What we do / What is proton therapy

Proton therapy or proton beam therapy is currently used to treat certain types of tumours. It is a special type of radiation therapy that uses elementary particles with mass and charge (protons) instead of high energy X rays (photons).

They release their energy into the tissues in such a way that the dose is almost entirely deposited, with extreme precision, in a space of just a few millimetres. The physical characteristics of the proton beams make them particularly suited to administering high doses since they act on the tumour while at the same time saving the surrounding healthy tissues.

The Trento Proton Therapy Centre has two treatment rooms for patients who decide to receive this therapy and whose cases have the characteristics suited to being treated. It also has another room, with a fixed beam, for experimental use, which is used to perform research activities.