Simulation of the proton therapy treatment

Before the patient undergoes the actual therapy, a treatment simulation must be performed.

The patient must report to the Proton Therapy Centre on the date of the appointment. After checking in, the nurse or a medical technician will accompany them to the CT/MRI area.

This simulation phase is important because it allows certain aspects that go along with the therapy and are useful for effectively performing the treatment in a personalized and reproducible manner.

In particular, the following will be done:

• identification of a position that can be reproduced during the proton beam therapy sessions and a custom immobilizing system made up of pillows, masks, and positioning systems;
• a CT simulation scan that will acquire the images needed to develop a personalized treatment plan. This operation could require a contrast agent and, if so, the patient will need to sign a consent form.

In some cases, an MRI may need to be performed in order to acquire further indications needed to define a treatment plan. A contrast agent may also be needed in this case and, if so, the patient will need to sign a consent form. Usually, the MRI is performed on a different day than the CT scan.

Once the simulation phase is complete, the patient will need to wait for the treatment plan to be processed and verified by the medical group. This operation requires about a week.

Once all of the aspects related to the proton beam therapy have been defined, the patient will be informed of the day and time treatment will commence.