New methods of precision radiotherapy

The goal of radiotherapeutic treatment is complete tumour destruction, while sparing the healthy tissue as far as possible. Precision radiotherapy requires tumour-conform irradiation with a curative dose. For electron linear accelerators, the most common therapeutic radiation source at present, delivering beams of electrons and hard X-rays, the methods of intensity-modulated and image-guided radiotherapy have been developed. The next level in improving tumour conformity is the clinical application of particle beams (protons and light ions). Such facilities require substantial investments. The outlay could be reduced, however, by using very compact accelerating structures based upon the interaction of highly intensive laser beams with matter. (orig.)