Spatial resolution and electron density study for proton computed tomography (pCT), using a curved proton track reconstruction algorithm

International audienceAim: In order to fully exploit the benefits of proton therapy, a precise determination of the proton range inside the patient is needed. The use of protons for the creation of a 3D relative stopping power map of the patient could decrease the proton range uncertainties and the imaging dose compared to X-ray CT, used currently in treatment planning. The goal of the present work is to explore the principal limits of proton CT in terms of spatial resolution and electron density determination by means of GATE/Geant4 Monte Carlo simulations using a new proton CT reconstruction algorithm