Comparison of cyclotron and synchrotron in particle therapy

Abstract

Particle therapy utilizes high-energy protons and carbon ions to treat patients, leveraging their unique Bragg peak and superior relative biological effectiveness. This treatment modality shows great promise in improving disease cure rates and minimizing treatment side effects. However, its adoption in China is limited by the high cost associated with this advanced radiotherapy technique, highlighting a substantial demand for particle therapy equipment in the country. This report conducts a comparative analysis of cyclotron and synchrotron accelerators, prevalent in clinical particle therapy institutes. We examine their beam parameters and provide detailed insights into the techniques and functionalities associated with each accelerator type. Specifically, we elucidate the processes of beam injection, acceleration, and extraction, highlighting operational intricacies at each phase of the cycle. Furthermore, we present beam intensity and energy modulation for both accelerators in three-dimensional dose delivery. In summary, the synchrotron offers adjustable energy levels and the ability to produce high-energy multi-ions, while maintaining a high beam transmission rate. Conversely, the cyclotron provides continuous beams with rapid intensity modulation and an energy degrader on the beam transport line for energy variation, leading to activation near the degrader. Therefore, when selecting the most suitable accelerator for clinical institutes, factors such as cost, maintenance requirements, treatment efficiency, and clinical needs must be carefully considered.